Dorothy Shooster’s life spans, and was influ- enced by, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depres- sion, World War II, the Holocaust, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the great move- ments for Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, social justice and equality, the times of the Big Bands, Rock and Roll, and Rap, and the enormous technologi-
community in Coral Springs, Florida. Dorothy would always greet me, elegantly coifed and impec- cably dressed. We would pass through the foyer and living room where works of contemporary art worthy of a great museum looked down from the walls or, in the case of the sculptures, stood on display. The
cal changes in all our lives. Her experiences include being a girl during the Great Depression, a young single woman during war time, a Post War entrepre- neur and business woman, a wife with a growing fami- ly in the Fifties, a husband whose battle scars were all inside but nonetheless very
Dorothy’s strength and her joy, her most important legacy is her family. This is the story of that family growing from fragile but resilient roots.
real wounds of war. Dorothy was the essential partner for her husband, Herman, in his long strug- gle to create a lasting business capable of providing for their large and growing family and employees. Her story is that of a first generation of children of immigrant parents who fled pogroms and perse- cution in Russia and of how those sturdy immi- grants embraced the opportunities and the ideal of America. Her story is that of the entrepreneur- ial spirit that starts with nothing and through hard work, perseverance, intelligence and a little mazel, builds a lasting business legacy. But Dorothy’s strength and her joy, her most important legacy is her family. This is the story of that family growing from fragile but resilient roots. If Dorothy were to have her way this book would be thousands of pages long and include chapters on every child and grandchild. If you are one of them and are not mentioned, blame me. No note, no clever saying, no spark of creativity, no act of love or compassion escaped Dorothy’s notice. This book would have included every picture, card and thank you note were Dorothy to have her way. All those reside in an archive available to the interested researcher. But a book has limits; it has to appeal to both the casual and the insatiable reader. Every Wednesday at noon I would arrive at Dorothy and Herman’s home in Eagle Trace, a
art included works by Dorothy’s children and their excellence is a fitting complement to the rest. Indeed the entire house is a gallery featuring the creativity of Dorothy’s children and grandchildren. Dorothy always made me lunch, a tasty simple fare with elegant flair that would have been at home in the best restaurants. During lunch we would talk about each other’s lives. Dorothy is not only a good storyteller but an excellent listener - two qualities that suit her role as matriarch very well. She could probably write a story of my life from all I have told her. After lunch we would settle down around the kitchen table beneath the tall windows looking out on the pool, the canal and the golf course beyond. The big Florida sky would tumble its climbing, roil- ing, heat induced clouds past us all afternoon. Doro- thy’s constant companions, her birds, would come and go during the afternoon. We would begin our work then in earnest, first reviewing the progress of the previous week, then shaping or creating new material for the week to come. I don’t think anyone who reads this book can come away without loving and admiring Dorothy. It was a privilege for me to help her and to gain her as a friend.
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