1882 – Montefiore is founded in Cleveland as the Kesher Home for Aged and Infirm Israelites by Jewish fraternity, Order of Kesher Shel Barzel, to house persons from a nine-state area who are 65 and older, reasonably healthy and in need of shelter.

1884 – Marking his 100th birthday, British philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore makes a contribution to the new home of 250 English pounds, and the Montefiore name is added to the name of the Cleveland institution.

1900 – The home has become engulfed in the combustion of city life, and agency leaders begin to think about relocation to a healthier, more tranquil environment.

1904 – As an original beneficiary agency of the Federation of Jewish Charities (now the Jewish Federation of Cleveland), Montefiore receives an allocation of $3,200 – nearly 10 percent of the Federation’s initial disbursements.

1918 – With the Woodland neighborhood continuing to turn more commercial and congested, Montefiore moves to the 5.5 acres it purchased for $30,000 in 1917 to Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights.

1921 – Armin Berger, the home’s first executive director, begins his 20-year tenure.

1923 – The agency name is shortened to The Montefiore Home. Residents still need to be healthy to be admitted; just one nurse is on duty during the day for accidents and colds.

1932 – Due to the Depression, nearly all produce consumed by the residents is grown on the property. The payroll for nine regular employees is $225 a month.

1941 – Dr. Julius Weil takes the professional helm of Montefiore – soon joined by his wife, Helen, in social services – and residential care quickly expands to include such areas as occupational therapy, recreation activities and skilled nursing.

1949 – By providing students field work training at the home, Montefiore enables Western Reserve University’s School of Applied Social Sciences to become the first graduate school in the country to offer geriatric casework.

1955 – To respond to the doubling of its population in the past 15 years – to more than 120 residents – Montefiore expands and updates its 36-year-old building and constructs a new wing.

1957 – The Montefiore Auxiliary is established to enhance the quality of life for residents and clients, to raise funds, to help maintain Montefiore’s Jewish identity and to foster interest in Montefiore throughout the community.

1965 – The bustling home now accommodates 164 residents and 30 additional seniors in the day care program. To meet the needs of the increasing number of individuals with physical and mental impairments, Montefiore gains growing recognition for its full-time nursing care for non-ambulatory patients and expanded therapy and social programs.

1970s-1980s – Under executive directors Bernard Stregevsky, Ira Robbins and Ed Vinocur, Montefiore continues to enhance medical and social service programs. Meanwhile, through short-term care, the agency enables many individuals to rehabilitate themselves and return to independence at home.

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Jacob Rohrheimer served as Montefiore’s first president when the home opened in 1882 on Woodland and East 55th Street in Cleveland. The first residents were a total of 40, “old and poverty-stricken Israelites.”

Montefiore’s elegant new home in Cleveland Heights in 1919 accommodated 8 couples and 45 single people in mainly private rooms. A small vegetable farm and garden enabled residents to do light work and enjoy the outdoors.

Montefiore and The Weils – Highlights Past and Present

1991 – The new Montefiore opens in Beachwood, housing 240 residents and offering specialty services such as short-term rehabilitative care and convalescent care. The new kitchen operates under strict dietary laws.

1992 – The National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section, commits funding through a bequest from the Sadie and Maurice Friedman Foundation to Montefiore’s new hospice program, the first nursing home-based, Jewish hospice licensed by the state of Ohio.

1995 – The Montefiore Foundation is created to build the endowment and expand Montefiore’s financial independence.

1999 – Montefiore leaders plan an elegant senior living community on 46 acres in Bainbridge and receive a $2.5 million grant from the Cornelia Schnurmann Foundation to advance the project – The Weils.

2000 – Montefiore enters the millennium with a new professional leader, Keith A. Myers, charged with continuing to raise Montefiore’s quality of care, its overall scope and its reach into the community.

2001 – Seeking approval from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for the first time, Montefiore receives outstanding evaluations in all five areas of resident care.

2002 – Montefiore reflects on its historic roots and recent innovations as the home celebrates its 120th anniversary... committed to moving forward from strength to strength.

The Weils, Montefiore’s new senior living community, opens its doors and provides incomparable amenities and services for healthy living and wellness. The Weils’ residents pursue physical, emotional and spiritual health and are able to live as independently as possible.

2005 – Montefiore embarks on an expansion and renovation project to overcome space constraints, update the facility and markedly increase and enhance the rehab therapy area.

2006 – Montefiore opens Rehab Road™, at the heart of its expansion project to create a new Montefiore. Rehab Road™ includes a replica bank, restaurant, grocery store, movie theatre, mail boxes and automobile.

The 6,000-square-foot, innovative Mandel Rehabilitation Pavilion for inpatient and outpatient rehab features steps, ramps, turnstiles, a checkout line and ATM. It also has a simulated kitchen, bathroom and bedroom to prepare patients to maximize their independence.

Montefiore is now wireless throughout the building.

2007 – Outdoor gardens, a courtyard, patio with seating areas, fountains, sculptures, a children’s playground and a therapeutic healing garden for dementia residents are all part of the “new” Montefiore.

Montefiore welcomes Lauren B. Rock as its new president & CEO. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the healthcare

industry. Lauren is the first woman to hold this position in Montefiore’s history.

2008 – Montefiore celebrates its 125th anniversary with a community- wide fundraiser, which drew more than 425 people and raised more than $300,000 to establish The 125th Anniversary Fund of the Montefiore Foundation so Montefiore can continue providing the highest quality of care, today and tomorrow.

In the 1940s, Montefiore began to transcend from simply care-taking and entered an era of comprehensive services. In 1947, Montefiore became the first home in the country to care for residents with dementia.

In 1954, Eleanor Roosevelt stated, “The Montefiore Home in Cleveland Heights is perhaps one of the most advanced experiments for old people.”

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Learning how to get in and out of a car is therapy on Rehab Road™.

A groundbreaking ceremony is held for a new 20,554-square-foot rehabilitation pavilion on The Weils campus.

2009 – Montefiore launches a palliative care consult service thanks to a generous grant from the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation with support from the McGregor Foundation.

The Weils expands and opens a new rehabilitation pavilion to better serve The Weils’ residents and those in the surrounding area. In addition to assisted living and rehabilitation therapy, The Weils now offers an intimate, secure wing for those with memory-impairment.

Montefiore’s Chapel Auditorium is renovated from floor to ceiling including state-of-the-art

technology thanks to a gift from The Maltz Family Foundation.

Montefiore’s newly renovated dementia unit called “Central Park” is unveiled, complete with a park-like setting, cobblestone-looking carpet, indoor trees, park benches, lamp post and a virtual blue sky. The area is re-imagined to foster resident dignity and provide a “sensory-stimulating” environment that is safe and secure. “Central Park” is a gift from the Morton and Toby Gross Family.

2010 – Montefiore opens a dedicated nine-bed, orthopedic rehabilitation therapy annex for post-hospital care. All rooms are refurbished and include a flat screen TV and DVD player.

2011 – Receives a significant gift to endow the hospice and palliative care programs at Montefiore in memory of Jules and Ruth Vinney.

Montefiore is awarded a generous grant from The Cleveland Foundation for chronic disease management.

Launches Electronic Medication Administration Records (E-MAR). Develops two new community-based programs: At-Home Sleep Apnea Testing & Therapy Program and Wheelchair Clinics.

Montefiore at Home Private Duty Services adds Philips Lifeline Medical Alert Service and transportation services and is named to the Homecare Elite for the fourth year in a row.

Post-Hospital Care Center – Second annex opens for orthopedic patients with the same features as the first annex.

Launches a heart failure pod to educate patients and family members on cardiac disease – new scale, menu items, a patient education station and videos are created.

Renovation of Myers 1 nurses’ station to increase communication and patient satisfaction.

Introduction of new Sleep Apnea Testing and Therapy program.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils.

Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils.

“For All Our Tomorrows,” the capital fund-raising campaign launched in 1988, sparked donations from 2300 contributors and generated $12 million for the new building in Beachwood.

Mort and Toby Gross sitting in “Central Park” at Montefiore.

Milton and Tamar Maltz enjoy the opening of the Maltz Chapel/Auditorium.

Diane Korman, director of Vinney Hospice, with Les Vinney and Margo Vinney Chaitoff.

Montefiore is “deficiency-free” for the second year in a row from the Ohio Department of Health in health services.

Answers On Demand (AOD) – new Electronic Medical Record to manage financial and clinical software needs is implemented.

Montefiore announces the opening of an assisted living memory care pavilion for individuals with early- to mid-stage dementia who need assisted living and memory care support with ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Montefiore receives a $2 million bequest from Steven and Judy Willensky to name the new assisted living memory care pavilion The Willensky Residence, An Assisted Living Memory Care Community.

2012 – Transitional care suite created with private bathroom/shower, dishwasher and refrigerator to help patients transition from rehab to home.

The Stella Kleinman Rehabilitation Therapy Gym opens with state-of-art equipment along with kitchenette and washer/dryer.

Bikur Cholim room opens through a gift from Amir & Edna Jaffe and Family with additional support from the Dessler Family Foundation to better accommodate individuals needing private space for religious purposes.

Lead gift support of $1.5 million grant from the Maltz Family Foundation for the proposed hospice house and palliative care pavilion, with additional gifts from Montefiore’s capital donors.

Beautiful new gardens, walking path and sitting areas greet you in the front of the building thanks to a gift from an anonymous donor.

The Weils kicks off its 10th anniversary with a series of events planned throughout the year.

The Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils is recognized by U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Homes.

The Weils Assisted Living and Vinney Hospice of Montefiore receives a zero-deficiency survey from the Ohio Department of Health.

Montefiore partners with Cleveland Clinic’s Connected Care program for post-hospital care.

Montefiore celebrates its 130th anniversary with several events including a Senior Living Health Expo, thanks to a grant from the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation.

Montefiore chaplain Rabbi Joel Chazin, with featured guest, Dr. Marc E. Agronin, author of “How We Age” at Montefiore’s Senior Living Health Expo.

The Stella Kleinman Rehab Therapy Gym.

Mark Weiss, Montefiore VP, Administrator and CFO, gently places a mezuzah on the doorpost of the Bikur Cholim room.

Cozy living room with fireplace for residents and loved ones to enjoy.

Open dining room and living areas with safe and separate entrance at The Willensky Residence.

Montefiore hosts Orthodox Men’s Health Fair in conjunction with Bikur Cholim of Cleveland.

2014 – Montefiore receives a deficiency-free survey for the fourth year in a row from the Ohio Department of Health.

Due to the success of The Willensky Residence, Montefiore expands and renovates space in an adjacent wing for an addition of ten rooms (six studios, four suites) for individuals who need assisted living memory care support.

Maltz Hospice House and Palliative Care Pavilion opens with ribbon-cutting ceremony to much fanfare.

130th Gala co-chairs: Elaine Gilbert, Joyce Wald, Margo Vinney and Judy Willensky.

Montefiore named Civic Organization of the Year by the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce.

2013 – Montefiore and The Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in Best Nursing Homes ranking, receives highest 5-star rating.

Montefiore is named as a finalist in Nursing Facilities in “Best of the East” from Circle East Live Well Magazine, a division of Cleveland Magazine.

Montefiore holds a 130th Anniversary Celebration gala – raising $400,000 to benefit the future home of the Maltz Hospice House and Palliative Care Pavilion on itsBeachwood campus.

The Montefiore Auxiliary celebrates its 55th anniversary.

Montefiore at Home receives perfect PASSPORT survey with zero deficiencies for second year in a row.

Groundbreaking begins on the Maltz Hospice House and Palliative Care Pavilion.

Montefiore and The Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils recognized by U.S.

News & World Report in Best Nursing Homes and receive highest 5-star rating.

Montefiore receives a grant from the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation to sponsor a community-wide dementia health fair symposium and a healthcare professional CEU seminar scheduled for fall 2014.

Best of the East – Montefiore named a finalist in Nursing Facilities in “Best of the East” from Circle East Live Well Magazine, a division of Cleveland Magazine, for the second year in a row.

Montefiore receives two grants (totaling $45,000) from the Innovative Fund of LeadingAge and the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation to introduce an In-Home Memory Support program to the community. The establishment of this program will benefit individuals with dementia, their families and the general community.

Health screenings at Orthodox Men’s Health Fair.

Maltz Hospice House and Palliative Care Pavilion ribbon-cutting ceremony. Left to right: Mayor Merle Gorden, City of Beachwood; Steven Willensky, board chair; Lauren Rock, president & CEO; Tamar and Milton Maltz and Diane Korman, director of Vinney Hospice and Palliative Care of Montefiore.

One of Maltz Hospice House’s two cozy living areas.

Maltz Hospice House beautiful courtyard garden.

Thanks to a gift from Jeffrey & Marti Davis, and his mother Lois Davis, the new memory care pavilion at The Weils is named The David and Freda Robinson Residence in memory of Lois’ parents and Jeffrey’s grandfather. This $4 million expansion project consists of 18,000-square-feet and was designed as a residential residence for individuals with dementia. The pavilion consists of 18 suites with three distinctive neighborhoods of six suites each.

The Montefiore Auxiliary changes its name to Montefiore Volunteer Partners (MVP).

Montefiore President & CEO Lauren Rock receives the 2014 Hillcrest Hospital Community Service Award for her outstanding and significant contributions to the community.

2015 – The Willensky Residence expands to add five studios and two suites for a total of 25 studios/suites. An innovative “life stations” room is created centered on careers, hobbies, interests and familiar daily activities for residents and family members to enjoy and reminisce.

Montefiore and The Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils is recognized by U.S.

News & World Report in Best Nursing Homes and receive highest 5-star rating for the third year in a row.

Montefiore launches its Memory Care Network, which umbrellas The Willensky Residence, The David and Freda Robinson Residence, and its new in-home memory support program.

Montefiore received Best of the East in the category of “Nursing Facility”

from Circle East Magazine, a division of Cleveland Magazine.

Home Care Elite 2015 – Montefiore at Home is honored as a 2015 HomeCare Elite winner.

The Weils hosts a groundbreaking ceremony for a new memory care pavilion. (L-R): Evan Lubline, Administrator, The Weils; Steven Willensky, Chair, Montefiore Board of Directors; Lauren B. Rock, President & CEO; Robert M. Lustig, Chair, Montefiore Housing Corporation; and Christopher Horn, Bainbridge Township Trustee.

Montefiore welcomes Seth Vilensky as its new President & CEO. Seth has a deep commitment to seniors and brings with him a wealth of

experience in the healthcare industry having served as administrator for Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Connected Care.Seth oversaw operations and strategy for the health system’s homecare, transitional care, skilled care and hospice. He also played a key role in the Clinic’s post-acute care planning and development of its “value-based” care model.

Seth has a deep commitment to seniors and brings over 15 years of healthcare experience to the position. His strong clinical background and understanding of the complex healthcare landscape will help positon Montefiore for the future and enable the organization to continue to navigate a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

A sold-out crowd of 400 guests joined Montefiore to honor outgoing President & CEO Lauren B. Rock and help raise funds for the new In-Home Memory Care Program at a benefit brunch held in May at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven.

Montefiore, Memories & Mimosas From l to r: Event co-chairs Steve & Judy Willensky, Jeff & Marti Davis, Lauren Rock & Peter Turner and Mary Ann & Gary Shamis.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for The David & Freda Robinson Residence

The David and Freda Robinson Residence opens on The Weils campus in Chagrin Falls. This beautiful 18,000 square-foot memory care assisted living pavilion incorporates the latest technologies and safety innovations in a homelike setting. Three distinctive neighborhoods, each with six spacious suites, feature a kitchenette, washer/

dryer, living room, bedroom, full bathroom with shower and large built-in closets - all designed with resident safety in mind. Intimate dining areas serve as gathering places for meals and socialization.

2016 – Best of the East – Montefiore is named a finalist in Nursing Facilities in “Best of the East” from Circle East Live Well Magazine, a division of Cleveland Magazine, for the second year in a row.

The Weils Assisted Living and The David and Freda Robinson Residence receives a deficiency-free survey from the Ohio Department of Health.

Montefiore launches a Home Smart Memory Care program offering personalized services and support so individuals can live safely and independently in their residence as long as possible. Our team of dementia experts provides individuals and their families the assistance and attention they need to help ensure safety and overall well-being of a loved one.

Montefiore celebrated its 25th anniversary in Beachwood with a community-wide Fall Harvest Family Festival which welcomed hundreds of community members – from all walks of life and demographics – to the campus.

Spacious living room in a suite at The David and Freda Robinson Residence

Christopher Horn, Bainbridge Township trustee; Steven Willensky, chair, Montefiore Housing Corporation; Evan Lubline, The Weils administrator; Lauren Rock, past president and CEO; Jeffrey Davis, chair, Montefiore Foundation; Seth Vilensky, president and CEO and Larry Mack, Montefiore board chair

Beachwood City Council member and Montefiore board member Barbara Bellin Janovitz with Montefiore President and CEO Seth Vilensky display a plaque issued by the City of Beachwood recognizing the day as “Montefiore 25th Anniversary in Beachwood Day.”

2017 – The Montefiore Foundation kicks-off an innovative fundraiser, Shining Star CLE, a unique solo-singing competition. This vocal competition gives high school

students the chance to compete for college scholarships and perform at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square while raising funds for programming that benefit individuals with dementia at Montefiore, The Weils and in the community. Students submit online video auditions and those selected are invited to in-person auditions, judged by a team of professional musical artists.

The Weils Assisted Living and The David and Freda Robinson Residence receive deficiency-free surveys for the second year in a row from the Ohio Department of Health. Additionally, The Rehabilitation Pavilion at The Weils is deficiency-free in all patient care areas.

The Willensky Residence, Montefiore’s memory care assisted living community, receives a deficiency-free survey from the Ohio Department of Health.

Montefiore launches an Associate Board with members between the ages of 21-40 with the mission of creating the next generation of leaders who will raise awareness on issues facing seniors and help advocate on behalf of the organization.

2018 – The Montefiore Foundation’s inaugural Shining Star CLE event raised significant dollars for memory care programs for residents on our campuses and within the community. A packed house of 800 guests joyfully listened as Northeast Ohio high school students sang their hearts out to compete for the top prize of a $10,000 college scholarship.

Received a $163,800 grant from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for security enhancements on both Montefiore and The Weils campuses. Funds were allocated toward a new generator for Montefiore in addition to cameras and surveillance equipment for The Weils campus.

With 400 participants including runners, walkers, volunteers and staff, Montefiore’s 4th annual Home Run 5K Run/Walk and 1M Walk was a huge success and raised $67,000.

Received a grant from Veterans of Foreign Wars of Ohio (VFW) to enable under-served individuals to be cared for at the end of life in Maltz Hospice House.

Recognized as a top tier partner of the Cleveland Clinic Connected Care Program based on outcomes and metrics.

Implemented Point Click Care (PCC), a new electronic medical record system for both campuses.

2019 – Montefiore’s 5th annual Home Run was a tremendous success and raised $81,000 with thanks to 400 participants including runners, walkers, volunteers and staff.

Home Run co-chairs Bruce Sherman and Robert Zelwin

Shining Star CLE 2017 Co-chairs and Board members Jeff & Marti Davis, Steve & Judy Willensky and Susan & Bob Hurwitz with Seth Vilensky and Montefiore Board Chair Ira Goffman.

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Montefiore Board ChairsJacob Rohrheimer* 1882-1884Jacob Mandelbaum* 1884-1888Sam Woolner* 1888-1891Adolph Freund* 1891-1894Samuel Grabfelder* 1894-1900Fred Lazarus* 1900-1912Louis M. Wolf* 1912-1932Jacob Mandelbaum* 1932-1937Julius Bloomberg* 1937-1946Edward Schultz* 1946-1952Arthur J. Reinthal* 1952-1955James B. Wolf* 1955-1958Harry Affelder* 1958-1961Abe M. Luntz* 1961-1964Jack N. Mandel* 1964-1967 Leroy Kendis* 1967-1972Sylvan Grotte* 1972-1976Joel Garver* 1976-1977Alvin Barkley 1978-1981Elmer Paull* 1981-1984Hal Myers 1984-1987Sally H. Wertheim 1987-1990Harley I. Gross 1990-1993Darrell A. Young 1993-1996Lois K. Goodman 1996-1999Harvey A. Siegel 1999-2002Susan R. Hurwitz 2002-2005Donald S. Scherzer 2005-2008Andrew W. Hoffmann 2008-2011Steven S. Willensky 2011-2014Lawrence A. Mack 2014-2017Ira S. Goffman 2017- present

Montefiore CeosArmin Berger* 1921-1941Julius Weil* 1941-1967Bernard Stregevsky* 1967-1983Ira Robbins* 1983-1988Edward W. Vinocur* 1988-1999Larry McElroy, Interim CEO 1999-2000Keith A. Myers 2000-2007Arlene Manross Interim CEO 2007 Lauren B. Rock 2007-2015Seth Vilensky 2015-present

* Deceased

Received a $100,000 grant from the Sephardic Home for the Aged to provide electronic monitoring sensors for clients in our In-Home Memory Care program.

The Montefiore Foundation’s Shining Star CLE event raised $381,000 for memory care programs on our two campuses and clients in the community who are part of our

In-Home Memory Care program. More than 900 guests filled the Mimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square to enjoy a sheer night of musical entertainment from the Top 10 Finalists. A portion of the funds raised were used to purchase IN2L (It’s Never Too Late) digital televisions with more than 3000 applications for resident use.

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