Even if you never met Sherri Zaslow, you have likely seen her friendly face and cheery smile at Talmudical Academy, Tudor Heights assisted living, or the Jewish Caring Network 5K Run. Since relocating from the Philadelphia suburb of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, to Baltimore, 17 years ago, Sherri has reinvented herself many times. In this Where What When interview, Sherri gives us a glimpse of her eclectic and inspirational life – and talks about the new service she is initiating that she hopes will help many people at a difficult junction in their lives.
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Q: Sherri, you’ve done so many things. Who are you? Have you always wanted to be what you are?
A: I’ve always tried to be the authentic me, whatever that means. I try to look for the lights along the way, smell the spices that may not be obvious, and bloom where I’m planted. I strive to see Hashem’s Hand in whatever is in front of me and then go from there. I’m just trying to be the best version of me all the time.
Q: Where are you from, originally?
A: Philadelphia, but my grandparents actually got off the boat from Europe in Baltimore Harbor. My 92-year-young father, ka”h, was born in Baltimore. We redid the Baltimore connection when we moved here; we were supposed to just “sojourn” for a while. Long story short: After some of my children attended school in Baltimore and started settling here, we decided to relocate, and my husband, Darrell, a”h, commuted to Philly, where his law practice was located.
Q: How have you reinvented yourself since moving to Baltimore?
A: When we first came here, I had a job at TA that I loved, on the heels of many years in education. Now I am back at TA but very part-time. After I left my position as executive director of Tudor Heights two years ago, and Darrell subsequently passed away, it was time to go back to work. My mission statement after the shloshim was to find the simcha (joy) and share the simcha in everything I do; if it’s not being true to that, I am not supposed to be doing it. So, after moving and settling things, I decided to go back to my happy place teaching kids.
Q: Tell us about your most recent reinvention as a businessperson.
A: Since my experiences as an assisted living manager, I have entered the world of senior care full force. I have relatives in the geriatric field, so it was something that was familiar to me, and I love it. I am privileged to serve on the Gilchrist Hospice Jewish Advisory Board, for which I am grateful and passionate, and I am dedicated and honored to speak as part of their Being Mortal educational panel. I never imagined when I started in that position that I was actually helping create something I would need for my own family one day.
When a crisis arises, families need so much support and help, because things become urgent and critical. No one is “ready” for the things that come up. My new service is an effort to be there for them.
Q: How did your personal loss inspire you to open your new business?
A: When my husband was suddenly diagnosed with advanced glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, we entered the world of “seniorhood” overnight; having to deal with things like power of attorney (POA), health care proxy, wills, insurances, life insurances, health care, doctors, therapies, and an “unsafe” house. I couldn’t even get into my husband’s computer – I didn’t know the passwords – so I couldn’t pay certain bills or access critical information. Everything seemed overwhelming. Ironically, he was an attorney, and I worked with seniors, but we didn’t have our paperwork up to date. It added a frenetic process to what was going on while we really needed to be dealing with other things and taking time for each other.
My children were amazing; each of them took on a different important role, and we were blessed with so much support from them, along with family and close friends and rabbanim. Darrell only lived 14 weeks from the time he was diagnosed. We were on supersonic speed with everything. Nobody should have to deal with these extra challenges at times of crisis as my family and I did. Too much precious time was spent on breaking into computers and finding passwords and redoing them and getting documents notarized as Darrell’s brain tumor was taking over. I really want to get across to people how critical it is for people – no matter what age – to be prepared. I filed away in my head everything that I had gone through and wrote some articles about it, just for me. I didn’t know what I was going to do with it all yet.
Q: Then what?
A: I started playing with the idea of helping people avoid going through what I went through: I call it “warp-speed to old age,” although it touches every age. People call me constantly for advice on how to help their parents; I try to give them the lay of the land. At the same time, I ask, “Do you yourself have in place the things that you need should you experience a sudden emergency?” I realized that there is great need in such situations, and the idea of working with both elderly and younger clients simultaneously came to fruition. So about nine months ago, I put out some feelers and decided that there is a niche for this kind of service. While there are professional case managers, social workers and geriatric care managers, no one is doing what I am doing: I am your close friend or relative, your child, sister, or brother who takes this personally and is helping to educate you and facilitate everything to make sure that when things happen you are not caught unaware, as I was.
Q: Please share an example of what proactive senior care planning entails.
A: I met with a family whose mother, in her low-70s, is hospitalized and may need a whole new, safer, living environment. My role is to help translate what the hospital or rehab may be planning and also be present as much as possible. I am sure to be at the hospital to visit and let the staff know I am there to help, advocate, and provide support so that things go as smoothly as possible. I am a central hub for the family of communication and planning.
This lady’s husband and family need assistance in all the areas. Legal paperwork needs to be put into place. Not only can I help to facilitate things with Mom, I want to be there for Dad. What paperwork is in place for him; Is he shopping and cooking on his own? Is his living environment safe? What is he doing socially? What will he do if his wife and lifetime companion goes to live in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility? I can also educate and guide the family to local resources and professionals that might be needed, along with hands-on help for things like touring facilities and making any necessary changes in the home. We also act as surrogate family when family members need to be away – things are individualized. I love the relationships we build. Even on my website, I only use photos of real people I know and not stock photos. It’s all about relationships.
Q: Do you only work with seniors for proactive planning?
A: No, I have helped people of all ages. I want to underscore this. My youngest case was a woman in her mid-thirties whose husband was about to undergo surgery. Everyone needs to have things in place – to be proactive. Especially, once you have a family, it is critical. I give a bracha that nothing should happen to anybody at a young age or out of the blue, but things happen and you need to be ready.
Q: Can you explain the logistics of helping people plan?
A: The center of the plan is my “Essentials Kit.” Many people don’t have easy access to their information, so my administrative assistant, Rochie Dannenbaum, and I go to the client’s house with a portable printer, scanner, and label maker, and we help get files in order. Some files might be at home, some at work, some filed, some not filed. I scan only the essential information, such as a will, investment papers, insurances, home and car info, etc. All that goes into your personal “Essential Kit” binder.
Q: Please tell us more about the “Essentials Kit.”
A: The kit lists in one place every password and bit of information needed by loved ones to prevent guesswork and scrambling. Passwords are critical, also information on how bills are paid Where are the files? Where is the will? It is so comprehensive it even includes information about collections you might have, such as paintings, jewelry, or coins; someone should know where the collection is and what to do with it.
Everything is in this one binder, and on a USB stick, which I give my client as well. Some people mean to do these things, but let’s face it, it’s not so easy to actually gather so much and we do it in an organized and timely manner. I contact my clients quarterly to make sure things are updated. People change their passwords all the time, or they may have a different investment, or, perhaps, that have a POA change. There are so many life changes that happen.
Q: On a more cheerful note, I heard you were starting a Jewish Caring Network Team for the Jerusalem 5K. Were you always a runner?
A: I was always very health conscious; my sister-in-law named me the original granola girl! I wasn’t a runner, but Darrell ran track in high school. When we lived in Bensalam (our little kiruv community with the shul we built in our home that has morphed into a shul with a rav, a kollel, preschool, Hebrew school and a mikva!), Tali, the daughter of a fellow community member was diagnosed with an incurable ocular melanoma and told she had months to live. Nothing like Jewish Caring Network or Ahavas Yisrael was in place in Bensalem; thankfully, Chai Lifeline stepped in. About the time she died, I broke my ankle and foot and was in a walking boot for 16 weeks when I got a pamphlet in the mail from Chai Lifeline with Tali’s picture on the cover. It advertised the run in the Miami marathon with Team Lifeline to raise money for the organization. I said, “Hashem, You are going to heal me. I never ran in my life and I am going to run a half-marathon for Tali.” That is when I started running; I was 50 years old. Darrell later suggested a 5K as a fundraiser for the Jewish Caring Network (JCN). Darrell and I were doing a lot of charity races – I’m a long-distance runner; he was a sprinter – and I had no idea that my association with JCN would be the “cure before the disease,” that I would be personally in need of JCN services years later when Darrell was diagnosed. We are beyond honored that the JCN’s men’s race is now named after Darrell. Last year, we raised $37,000 between our two teams: I hope to double it this year. JCN is so critical to this community. I decided that, for Darrell’s second yahrtzeit, that I was also going to run in the Jerusalem Marathon. It was obvious to me when I realized that the date of it coincides with his yahrtzeit and my trip to his kever in Eretz Yisrael. I am excited to be training for the half-marathon and to launch the first JCN team running in Jerusalem. We may be only a team of two this year, but watch out!
Q: I wish you hatzlacha rabba (great success) in all your important endeavors! Any parting words, Sherri?
A: I am on this whole rediscovery road. I knew who I used to be. When things changed overnight, my center may have shifted but I am shifting with it. I do feel like Hashem is helping me constantly by giving me extra brachos so I can use my time, talents, passions, and energy towards good things. I just want to spread simcha and inspiration to others as much as possible wherever I go.
