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ONE MINUTE WITH... Millie Fishbein
Libby Barsky
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH STATE
November 7, 2008

Name: Millie Fishbein

Occupation: Secretary for 30 years for Atmos Engineering of Kennilworth

Address: Colonia

Age: 85

Family: Widow of attorney Martin Fishbein, a Pearl Harbor veteran. They were married for 57 years and had three children: two daughters and a son. Daughter Sydney is a homemaker married to Buddy Luper, a salesman at Sam's. They live in Springfield and have three married sons: Michael, the chief financial officer of Oldstein Mutual Funds, is married to Melissa. They live in Westchester and have two daughters. Eric Luper, a chiropractor and novel writer, is married to Elaine, an attorney. They have two children and live in Albany. Brian Luper works at Rutgers University and is married to Winnie. They live in Piscataway with their daughter, 5, and twin boys, 6, months. Daughter Ronnie Weiner David works for HealthNet. She is married to Don, a physical therapist and artist. They live in Scotch Plains. Their children are Jan, a teacher of Psychology at Queens College; Lauren is an event planner living in Hoboken; and Elissa, a Douglass graduate studying nursing. Son Charles Fishbein is a commercial photographer and videographer, and is married to Sara. They live in Weehawken with their daughter, Allison, who attends Middlesex County College.

Community activities: In the third non-consecutive term of serving as president of Colonia Chapter of Hadassah. She has led the Hadassah Gift Wrap at Woodbridge Center fundraiser for 18 years. President of 55Plus Club, a social group formerly of Woodbridge, now meeting at Neve Shalom, Metuchen. Secretary of Congregation Neve Shalom, secretary of the Sisterhood and a member of the Neve Shalom choir. Election poll worker for past few years.

Hobbies: "I love singing, reading, and writing parodies. I'm writing one now for the 55Plus Club's Anniversary Dinner Dance event to be held Oct. 26."

Self-portrait: "I'm someone who loves to be involved and has a really strong feeling for Israel."

Motto: "Keep busy and don't waste time."

Greatest achievement: "My three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren."

Bad habits: "I wait until the last minute to do things under pressure."

Favorite TV: " 'The Nanny' and 'The Golden Girls' - I watch re-runs - and watching baseball."

Favorite food: "Ice cream, but no special flavor - any ice cream."

Best childhood memory: "Being in a play when I was 4 years old. It was a Purim play at the YM-YWHA and all the kids in town (Somerville) were in it and I was Esther. The king asked "where did you come from?" and I said "beyond the city gates". It was the beginning of my being in shows and singing for organizations. I love it."

People don't know that I… "Was once on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House and sang one note. My husband was in the lighting business and he was doing lighting for practice hall in the Met. While we were there the Met stage was empty and I went out and sang one note. That night I sang for an organization and I was introduced as 'Straight from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera!'

Last book I read: "'The Saturday Wife,' by Naomi Ragen, about a girl who grows up in an Orthodox family, is sent to a private girls' school with the intention of marrying a rabbi. It is the story about her ambivalent feelings when her rabbi husband takes a job with a well-to-do congregation. I've also finished 'Moscow Rules,' by Daniel Silva; its very fast."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "The dedicated men and women who give of their time for volunteer organizations."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "The people who tell you what to do, but when you ask for their help they tell you they are too busy."

If I had more time: "I would spend it with my children."