Collier/Lee Hadassah Inspiring Women brunch showcases entertainment

By Diane Schwartz, Collier/Lee Hadassah past president

Hadassah’s Third Annual Inspiring Women Brunch will showcase an artistic interlude by the world-traveling noted jazz, classical and pop pianist Arthur Topilow, M.D. The Inspiring Women luncheon event will be held on Sunday, March 3 at a local Naples country club.

The musical interlude joins the festivities as Hadassah honors outstanding women who make a difference. The Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah has created the Inspiring Women event to recognize the importance, value and impact empowered women make in our communities.

Hadassah is proud to honor these Inspiring Women. The honorees are Gayle Dorio, professional designer and community leader; Sonya (Sunny) Lubner, philanthropist and community leader; and Ellaine Rosen, educator extraordinaire and community leader.

Arthur Topilow, M.D., FACP, now retired from clinical practice, was the director of Hematology/Medical Oncology at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune, New Jersey, and an ardent pianist at night.

He began studying the piano in his hometown of Bayonne, New Jersey, and was soon playing professionally in his high school years. Topilow studied jazz piano with noted jazz musician Morris Nanton. During Topilow’s college and medical school years, he honed his skills in summer while playing in Catskill Mountain hotel bands. In his internship year, he performed “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Manhattan Doctors’ Orchestra. His chamber music performances have included many famous classical works. Topilow has performed with the Garden State Orchestra and the Count Basie centennial jazz concerts in the Jazz in the Park series and his own jazz group continues to play locally in New Jersey.

Topilow has participated in the 92nd Street Y’s jazz piano Master Class, as part of the “Jazz in July” series and he performed in their “Jazz in July” concert series. He played for Bernadette Peters in a concert and for Joe Piscopo, who sings the Sinatra Song Book. He has made several CDs with his talented brother Carl, who plays the clarinet, as well as a solo CD featuring his virtuoso piano skills. The brothers were sent by the U.S. Department of State to Italy where they performed five concerts in four days.

Setting the mood for Inspiring Women will be Frannie Faith. Faith is a singer/songwriter, actor and meditation teacher. She has been organizing and performing in concerts, many to benefit various charities, most of her life. Faith has sung on numerous television and radio commercials including background vocals for Whitney Houston. In the early ’80s, she worked as an actor/singer on the “As the World Turns” soap opera where she performed over 40 original songs.