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One Minute With... Susan Harris

Libby Barsky
THE JEWISH STATE
February 12, 2010

Name: Susan Harris

Occupation: Chief executive officer of the Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living, Somerset

Address: Linden

Family: Married almost 25 years (in November) to John, a realtor. They are parents of a daughter, Sarah, 17, who attends the Scotch Plains Magnet High School. The family dog is Bridget a Schnauzer. Brother Ron Koenig is married to Mary Ann and they live in Beth Page, Long Island, N.Y. with their two children. Sister Lisa Abrams an attorney is married to attorney Robert Abrams. They have three children and live in Merrick, Long Island.

Community activities: Member of Temple Beth El-Mekor Chaim, Cranford. Member of N.J. Association of Home and Services for the Aging and a member of the New Jersey Association of Jewish Communal Service.

Hobbies: "Travel, reading, cooking scrapbooking, photograpy, knitting and needle work and spending time with family and friends."

Self-portrait: "I'm a people person who enjoys being with people. I'm also very organized."

Motto: " 'Always do the right thing.' It's something I tell my daughter all the time."

Greatest accomplishment: "Personally, it's my daughter, because she has turned out to be a well-grounded young lady who understands the importance of giving back to the community. Professionally, it was the ability in my last position working at MetroWest to be able to create a successful transportation program for seniors and special needs adults. I applied for the grants and created the model."

Bad Habits: "I stay up way too late reading mysteries, romantic novels, and historical fiction at night."

Favorite TV: "I like 'Big Love,' 'Project Runway,' and 'Grey's Anatomy' and anything on the food network."

Favorite food: Chinese food.

Best childhood memory: "My father's hobby was little miniature electric race cars when I was between 8 and 10. My favorite memory was mastering all the new tracking my father set up in the basement for those little electric racecars. It was a challenge to keep them on the tracks, so he would keep rearranging. We had to learn the hills, the curves, loops, and how fast the cars could go without falling off the track. It was a challenge to race against the clock to see how fast the cars would go or how long would it take you to finish before falling off the track."

People don't know that I: "I make and design jewelry -- necklaces, pins, and earrings -- and exhibit at craft shows every now and then." Last book I read: " 'Julie and Julia,' by Julie Powell. After I saw the movie, I read the book."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "It's the Wilf Campus and all the services it provides to our seniors."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "The ability to continue to raise funds because of the economy and just so many people being out of work. It's a problem for the Jewish community."

If I had more time I would... "Travel. I'm a photographer, so I would really like to go to Greece, especially because of the scenery and architecture there."