Gaudium Award 2009
On Monday, November 9, 2009, The Breukelein Institute once again conferred its Gaudium Award upon a quartet of remarkable men and women. Held during its annual fund raising dinner at the Yale Club, this year’s honorees include:
-
Marilyn Maye
Marilyn Maye has been a professional singer since early childhood. She began singing on her own radio show while still in high school. This led to more radio jobs and singing engagements throughout the Midwest. After years of club dates and touring, she was discovered by Steve Allen who invited her to perform on his TV show. These appearances resulted in a recording contract with RCA, producing seven albums and thirty four singles. She went on to seventy-six appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Currently selling out performances with symphony orchestras and in clubs throughout the states, a recent review stated Miss Maye has “the showmanship and flair of a Broadway diva of the first caliber".
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
Born in Boston, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik has been Senior Rabbi for the Congregation of Mount Sinai, Brooklyn Heights since 1972. A graduate of Yeshiva University and Brooklyn Law School, Rabbi Potasnik is presently the executive vice-president of the New York Board of Rabbis. He co-hosts WABC’s talk radio program “Religion on the Line” every Sunday morning and is the religious commentator for 1010 WINS radio. He has served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department, the Fraternal Order of Police and the New York Press Club.
Robert Sherman
Broadcaster, author, teacher and radio host, Robert Sherman is probably best known for his work at radio station WQXR, where he has been Program Director, Executive Producer and Senior Consultant. For twenty three years he presided in “The Listening Room” and continued to present “The McGraw-Hill Companies’ Young Artists Showcase” for the station. His multiple award-winning folk series “Woody’s Children” now heard in New York on Public Radio’s WFUV marked its fortieth anniversary this year. A long time music columnist for The New York Times and a faculty member of the Juilliard School, Mr. Sherman is increasingly busy as a concert narrator, including premieres of works written for him.
Helen Thomas
The daughter of immigrants from Tripoli, Helen Thomas has worked as a journalist since 1942. She served for fifty-seven years as a correspondent and, later, as White House bureau chief for United Press International (UPI). Ms. Thomas has covered every president since John Kennedy. She was the first female officer of the National Press Club, the first female member and president of the White House Correspondents Association. She is the author of Dateline: White House, Front Row at the White House, Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President, Watchdogs of Democracy?, The Great White House Breakout, and Listen Up, Mr. President.