Jewish News Supplement - Retirement (January 2024) by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

RE TIREMENT

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retirement Ready for retirement? Dear Readers, The life-changing decision to retire is sometimes based on one’s official full retirement age (depending on birth year) to receive the most Social Security benefits. For others, however, the decision can be based on health, financial stability, desires to spend more time with family and friends, more time

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relaxing, and additional days focusing on hobbies and travel. Whatever the reason, those who are most content in retirement stress the importance of planning for it – both financially and how those now unstructured days will be spent. Martin Brenner, Laurie Goldsticker, Herm Shelanski, and Steve Wohlgemuth are all leading happy and fulfilled retirement lives. Beginning on page 19 they share how they arrived at the decision to take the retirement leap and some of the activities that keep them engaged and looking forward to each new day. You might feel as if you can imagine them all smiling as they respond to Jewish News’ questions! I certainly did. An important aspect of retiring with a clear head is the ability to not be too concerned about finances, and to have prepared for providing for loved ones, as well as making philanthropic gifts. The article on page 24 discusses charitable giving and financial planning and how Tidewater Jewish Foundation may assist in achieving those goals. Where to live, how to plan for personal assistance if necessary, and other topics should also be considered when making the retirement decision. The advertisers in this section offer various options for those issues.

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Whatever retirement road you’re on, all of us at Jewish News hope it’s

smooth, and fun, too!

Editor

retirement

Successful At Retirement

Stephanie Peck erhaps Fred Rogers said it best: “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” The Tidewater retirees profiled here exemplify the wisdom of Mr. Rogers. A surgeon hones his woodcraft, a Navy vice-admiral masters a pizza oven, a third-generation jeweler pursues gardening, and a physician imparts knowledge to the next generation of doctors. All are happily retired, all share a desire to travel, and all speak of the joy in a new day.

Martin Brenner

was always involved with it at least partially up until my return. We were always a customer-driven business and, as my dad transitioned to a more part-time role, I continued to cultivate our customer service and added more custom design. I maintained that focus until the end. JN: When did you retire? MB: I retired December 21, 2023.

Martin Brenner

Jewish News: Where were you educated? Martin Brenner: I graduated from

Granby High School and then went to University of Georgia where I received a degree in business administration. JN: What was your work history? Did you

work anywhere besides Spertner Jewelers? MB: I worked for a year as a bartender in

Atlanta and then moved home to work in the store. I had previously worked there when I was 16, unpacking china barrels and working in the stock room. When I moved back, we had four locations, and I moved around and worked at all the stores, learning the business. During that time, we opened seven watch kiosks, called Time Square, and operated the jewelry department inside six Rices Nachmans department stores. By 1985, the Rices Nachmans stores had closed, and by 1990, the kiosks, which were in mall locations, became too expensive to operate. In 1995, we had three

jewelry store locations. We concluded that we were too little to be big and too big to be little – and I was ready to try something new. We closed all the stores except for one location, which my dad operated. I bought a computer education franchise which taught computer education to children. At the time, personal computers were not in every home, and there was a need to expose young children to technology. By 2000, the novelty of personal computers had worn off, and many people had computers and educational software at home. I closed the franchise and began an operation in the advertising specialty industry, providing cookies to major companies with an edible image of their logo. We provided cookies to companies such as DKNY, Motorola, Guess, WWE, and many others. The housing collapse and recession decimated the advertising industry, and we were also a victim of that fallout. I returned to Spertner’s full time about 2008. I never totally left the business and

is a volunteer program, and I’m looking at working with schools to show the kids how to plant a garden and how their food grows. JN: Is there an opportunity to use your

professional skills in volunteer work? MB: I’m not sure there is an opportunity

to work as a volunteer using my jewelry knowledge, but if there is something, I would certainly consider it.

JN: What convinced you to take the leap? MB: My lease was up at the end of 2023,

JN: What about travel? Do you have desti-

and I had already renewed it an additional two years beyond the initial five years. Business was good. I had a strong and loyal customer base; I honestly could have gone another two years, but I wanted to retire while I was still healthy enough to enjoy it. My wife retired the year before, because of COVID, and sometimes you have to just pick a point and say this is it.

MB: Travel plans include Miami,

JN: Do you have a plan for what you will

nations in mind? Yellowstone Park, Costa Rica, Amsterdam, Portugal. Too many to mention. JN: In general, are you glad you decided to

retire? What will you miss about working? MB: I am glad I retired. I will miss many

of my long-time customers and the social aspects of their visits. But I have no doubts about this being the right time for me. My advice is if you can afford it, don’t wait.

do with your time? MB: I’m not worried

about staying busy and engaged during my retirement. We will travel for sure. I plan to get my master gardener certificate. I love to read. I’m going to start slowly, enjoy my time not working, and gradually add new things as they present themselves. I’m not in a hurry to fill my day. JN: Will you

volunteer? MB: The master

gardener program

Martin Brenner

retirement –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

provided so much satisfaction, and I love working with the medical students now. I miss my patients and am always delighted when our paths cross but am thankful for the opportunity to focus on family and health.

Laurie Goldsticker, MD Jewish News: Where were you educated? Dr. Laurie Goldsticker: I spent my

undergraduate years exploring the grounds of University of Virginia before attending graduate school at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. JN: What was your work history? LG: I was fortunate to work with com-

passionate and skilled family physicians in Sentara Medical Group and Bayview Physicians Group in Tidewater. During the initial few years, I took care of newborns in the hospital nursery and residents of Beth Sholom Home, in addition to patients in the office. When I moved my practice to a location closer to my home, I transitioned to outpatient care only; I fulfilled my dream of being a neighborhood family doc like my childhood physician, Dr. Jerome Perlman. In addition to patient care, I had the opportunity to work with medical students in my office throughout my career. JN: Did you have a plan for what you

would do with your time? LG: I have always kept a “when I retire list,” with auditing college classes at the top. A couple of years prior to retirement, I expanded that list and am pleased that I have achieved several of the goals already! I took an online meteorology course a few years ago but am not yet of the age to audit ODU classes without charge. JN: Do you participate in volunteer work? LG: Absolutely! Our parents set an example

for us early on, with Dad serving as treasurer for Beth El and later volunteering his accounting skills at JFS, and Mom actively participating in Beth El Sisterhood and B’nai Brith Women. My first volunteer activity in retirement was with the Be A Reader program, which pairs volunteer mentors and elementary school students for an hour each week.

JN: Do you feel any health-

ier? Less stressed? LG: Unequivocally yes to

JN: Do you use your professional skills in

any way since retirement? Do people still call you for medical advice? LG: After a few months of retirement, and at the encouragement of my husband and daughter, I reached out to the Eastern Virginia Medical School contact who had placed medical students in our office and inquired about opportunities to volunteer as a retired physician. Much to my delight, I have had the opportunity to work with small groups of first- and second-year medical students as they learn the clinical skills needed to practice medicine. We meet regularly with standardized patients, in a setting that allows the students to become comfortable with communicating and examining patients. My husband and I continue to learn from medical journals, and I suspect we will always receive phone calls with medical questions. JN: What do you do to relax? LG: For me, retirement equals relaxation.

I am fortunate to have this time to spend with my parents and grandchildren. I continue to enjoy reading, assembling jigsaw puzzles, and playing the piano. And I’m

both questions! My health has improved significantly in retirement, and I was able to leave the stress at the office. JN: Do you have any advice

Drs. Gary Siegel and Laurie Goldsticker.

always looking for new Words with Friends opponents. JN: What about travel? What has been a favorite destination? LG: A favorite destination? Wherever our sweet grandchildren are! Being Bubby/Savta is the best! We gravitate toward the beach and Florida but love spending time in the winter in Colorado. JN: In general, are you glad you retired?

Do you ever miss working? LG: I am quite happily retired. I was

fortunate to have a profession which

for someone considering retirement? LG: I highly recommend it. Along with financial planning for retirement, focus on compiling a list of activities and hobbies that interest you. Once you’ve retired, start a new routine for your mornings – most of us need at least a little structure to our day. Try something new, volunteer, reach out to family and friends with regular phone calls and visits. It may take a year to settle into your new life, but it is worth the effort. JN: Last comments? LG: At some point, you will stop working.

If you are able, plan to do it while you can appreciate it. Enjoy this next chapter in life – you’ve earned it!

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Herman Shelanski Vice Admiral, USN Retired Jewish News: Where were you educated? Herman Shelanski, Vice Admiral, USN Retired: I have a Bachelor of Arts

General Science from University of Colorado at Boulder.

in Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology from University of Colorado at Boulder. I also have a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Space Systems 774 from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. I earned a Doctorate in

JN: What was your work history? HS: I served 38 1/2 years in the United

States Navy and retired as a three-star Vice Admiral. Then I worked two years at Newport News Shipbuilding as vice president of Strategy and Business Development.

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Herm and Patty Shelanski sight-seeing in Taormina, Sicily.

retirement JN: When did you retire? HS: I retired in 2018 from the Navy and

JN: Do you have any days just to relax? If so,

2021 from Newport News Shipbuilding. I still do some consulting and leadership presentations with my own limited liability corporation.

HS: We recently bought a cabin in

JN: What convinced you to take the leap? HS: For the Navy, I had basically reached

the age limit and limit for promotion. For Newport News Shipbuilding, I wanted to retire more fully.

what do you do? Dugspur, Va., near Floyd and about an hour east of Galax. It’s on a native trout stream for me to fly fish, though I need to commit to doing more of it! We love going up there to just relax, hike, visit the wineries, and the city of Floyd. I am on a journey to achieve excellence with my pizza dough and oven! I am happy with where I am but am always looking for new ideas and recipes. My next step is to get more into wood-fired, cooked, home-made bread. I am also an avid bike rider. JN: What about travel? HS: In 2023, we went to Scotland, mainland

Italy, and Sicily. We are planning to go to Normandy, France and Barcelona this year. JN: In general, are you glad you retired? Do

you ever miss working? HS: I am glad I retired. I do miss the Navy,

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Steve Wohlgemuth, MD Jewish News: Where were you educated? Dr. Steve Wohlgemuth: I received

JN: When did you retire? SW: December 31, 2019. I had just

my Bachelor of Science in biology from University of Connecticut in 1976. In 1979, I graduated from University of South Carolina with a master’s degree in marine biology. I then went to medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine and finished in 1983. I completed my surgical residency at EVMS, 1983-1988.

turned 64.

JN: What was your work history? SW: I joined Norfolk Surgical Group

in 1988 as a general surgeon; we joined Sentara Medical Group in the early 2000’s. I started doing bariatric surgery in 2000 and pretty much performed bariatrics exclusively since 2010. I started Sentara Comprehensive Weight Loss Solutions in 2003 and was medical director until retirement at the end of 2018.

JN: What convinced you to take the leap? SW: I’ve always felt surgeons are like ath-

letes. Our work is physically demanding, and, at some point, your skills are going to diminish. My father, a plastic surgeon, told me that, as a surgeon, you are better off retiring five years too soon as opposed to five minutes too late. I wanted to retire before my skills deteriorated. I wanted to go out as the best surgeon I could be. JN: Did you have a plan for what you would do with your time? SW: I have been interested in woodworking since I took shop as a kid. I built two wooden kayaks in my 30s and took a woodturning class at the Hermitage Museum about 25 years ago. I fell in love

the camaraderie, the mission, and the excitement. JN: Do you feel any healthier? Less stressed? HS: Definitely less stressed! The life of The Shelanski family dinner in their Sicilian villa.

JN: Did you have a plan for what you would

the Navy took a lot out of me, so I am living with a lot of aches and pains, particularly my back. But in general, I am in very good health.

do with your time? HS: Volunteer work and write a book on

JN: Do you have any advice for someone

being a captain of an aircraft carrier.

considering retirement? HS: Yes. It needs some planning. Lots of good books to read. For those with intense jobs like mine, it is good to fill part of the day with something meaningful and, of course, get quality family time. It is also the time to travel and do the things that were always put off because of work.

JN: Where do you volunteer besides Beth El? HS: I am an advisor to the City of Norfolk,

I serve on Military Economic Advisory Council, and I am on the board of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. I am chairman of the board of directors for the Trans Atlantic Council of the Boy Scouts of America. I serve on the board of directors of the VAW/VRC Foundation, which coordinates with the Hawkeye (the aircraft I flew) community and raises money to make sure all children of fallen aviators have college scholarships. JN: Do you use your professional skills in

some of your volunteer work? HS: Yes, leadership, strategy, and mentorship.

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JN: Last comments? HS: Patty and I had a choice of where to

go after retirement. We had family still in Philadelphia and houses both in San Diego and Norfolk. But our deciding factor was to go back to Norfolk. For most of our career, it was our home, where we still had the majority of our friends, and our Jewish community at Beth El was so important to us.

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retirement with turning and took some classes. I was pretty concerned about any possible hand injuries, so it wasn’t until my mid 50s that I really started to turn consistently. I started my business, WoogWorks, in 2015, with a simple website. After I retired, I hired a media consultant who redid my website and made it possible to sell products off the website. I’ve since gotten an Instagram page as well as an Etsy shop.

JN: Where do you volunteer? SW: When I was practicing, I was on the

boards of Ohef Sholom, Lee’s Friends and Norfolk Collegiate. Since retiring, I have not done much volunteering, as I’m plenty busy with twin grandsons who live locally.

SW: I do Pilates twice a week, physical therapy once a week, and play golf at least once a week. On those days when I don’t have any appointments or commitments, I’m usually in the shop working on orders or just playing around with some new ideas.

JN: Do you have any days just to relax? If so, what do you do?

JN: What about travel? SW: I do enjoy traveling but am also very

content to be home. I just got back from a 2 1/2- week trip to South Africa. Since being there, I am very excited to start doing some more wildlife and nature photography. I’m trying to go to new places. Future trips are going to be the Galapagos Islands, the Far East, and the Middle East when things calm down.

happy retired. JN: Do you feel any healthier or less stressed? SW: Yes and yes. I didn’t realize how sleep deprived I was from 35 years of taking call. JN: Do you have any advice for someone considering retirement? SW: Absolutely, you need to actively prepare for retirement. You need a number of hobbies or passions to fill your days. I very carefully planned my increasing interest and involvement with woodworking to coincide with my retirement. JN: Last comments?

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JN: In general, are you glad you retired? Do you ever miss working? SW: I absolutely loved my career and loved it until the day I retired. Having said that, the only thing I miss are some of the people who were integral to my success. I didn’t realize how stressful my day-to-day life was until I stopped. It was such a weight off my shoulders to no longer worry about patients. I still get to use my hands in my woodworking. The bottom line is I am very, very

SW: I am also very fortunate that, within

eight months of my retirement, I had three grandchildren and now have four: twin boys who live in Norfolk and two granddaughters who live on the west coast. Being a grandparent is one of life’s greatest blessings. It’s one of the few things in life that isn’t over rated. People tell me I’m lucky to have woodworking to keep me busy, but there is no luck involved. It was an interest that I cultivated into a passion. You can’t wait till you retire to try and figure out what to do with the rest of your life. I have thought about this a lot, and, last year, I gave a grand rounds to the Department of Surgery at EVMS on how to retire successfully.

jewishnewsva.org | January 22, 2024 | JEWISH NEWS | 23

retirement

Charitable giving and financial planning in 2024 T Scott R. Saal he New Year is always a time to reflect, as well as to start planning for the year ahead. As we consider financial plans in 2024, we encourage clients to consider the charitable impact they hope to make. Of course, many of us know the cornerstones of a successful investment strategy underlying an enduring financial plan, including tailoring an investor’s portfolio to their risk tolerance and to meet both short-term and long-term goals. Still, integrating philanthropy into a financial strategy can be both fulfilling and advantageous. While charity always comes from the heart, when thoughtfully planned, charitable contributions can offer various tax and other benefits. Our practice works closely with Tidewater Jewish Foundation to help clients implement charitable goals inside and outside of the Jewish community. In this regard, Naomi Limor Sedek and the TJF team are a wonderful resource and valued partners for clients seeking to make an impact in the community. Clients have worked with TJF to implement various giving strategies, including:

• Gifting appreciated securities • Setting up Donor Advised Funds • Funding charitable trusts • Making charitable IRA distributions • IRA beneficiary planning There are many charitable options to consider regardless of the size of an investor’s portfolio. Strategies as simple as donating a portion of an annual Required Minimum Distribution from a retirement account can save taxes and benefit a cause the donor cares about through a legacy gift. Anyone with charitable goals should talk with their financial adviser and start planning. I also encourage connecting with TJF to start a conversation, as TJF can become an invaluable member of a financial team. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Scott R. Saal, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner and managing partner at Virginia Wealth Management Group, Inc. Virginia Wealth Management Group is not an accounting firm and does not provide tax advice. Always seek the counsel of a qualified accountant when necessary.

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