Days after Valentine’s Day, MorseLife resident Esther Feldberg signed copies of her debut memoir, “Sunshine and Moonstruck: My True Story of Love, Joy and Sadness,” for fellow residents and friends.

Published in September 2024, the book chronicles her first marriage to her college sweetheart who she met while attending University of Illinois. “The first minute I met him, we fell in love. He was very handsome and the love of my life,” she said. Her husband of 18 years was a lieutenant and communications officer in the Navy and sadly passed away of an illness at the age of 41, leaving her to raise their three children on her own.

Feldberg also goes back deeper in her family’s history to share her maternal and paternal grandfathers’ stories of moving from Europe to the United States, recounting the trials and tribulations Jewish immigrants faced.

“Sunshine and Moonstruck” is available for purchase on Amazon. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

With too many stories to tell in its 110 pages, Feldberg is currently hard at work on her next memoir about her second chance at love with Sumner “Sonny” Feldberg. The future couple rode the school bus together when she was in seventh grade, and she thought he was cute. They later reconnected as adults and eventually married.

The pair moved to MorseLife in July 2019, and he passed away in July 2022 at the age of 98. Fashionistas and “Maxxinistas” will really enjoy Felberg’s second book. Sonny was the founder of such stores as BJ’s Wholesale Club, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and Homesense and she’ll share the backstories of their creation.

About to celebrate her 99^th birthday in April, Feldberg is still going strong and enjoys spending time at Palm Beach Country Club, where she’s been a member since 1990.

It isn’t uncommon to run into a heroic and decorated war veteran or two when walking the halls of MorseLife’s Levin Palace, the five-star luxury living independent residence in West Palm Beach.  Allen Stern, a ninety-eight-year-old veteran from the greatest generation, is one of several who live on campus, enjoying the freedom, fun, and more life MorseLife offers. Leading up to Veteran’s Day, Allen took some time to share a small but very important part of his history with us.

“Many members of America’s Greatest Generation are well into their 90s now, and their impact on our world today has been monumental,” said MorseLife President and CEO Keith A. Myers. “Their stories are filled with bravery, sacrifice, and grit, qualities we want to instill in younger generations because lessons from the past inform our future.”

Allen was part of Company B, 142nd Infantry, 36th Texas Division, and he fought in Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria for two years during World War II.  He sustained five injuries during his service and earned a Purple Heart for his bravery on the battlefield. Allen is also the recipient of two Silver Stars, awarded for singular acts of heroism in battle, and a Bronze Star.

“I received my first Silver Star when Nazi troops overtook 40 soldiers from my division, and I managed to fire 2,000 rounds of ammunition, killing 85 German soldiers,” Allen said.  “The second Silver Star was awarded because I shot a grenade out of a German colonel’s hand and then captured 28 German soldiers. The colonel’s entire battalion surrendered.”

Allen has been married for 68 years and has three daughters and five grandchildren. He worked as an engineer for Pickering for over 35 years. He was also the former program director of ammunition research and development for the United States Army, earning a technical achievement award for his work.

Today, Allen is a delightful and witty resident here at MorseLife’s Levin Place, enjoying life to the fullest. We thank you, Allen, for your tremendous service to our country.

Levin Palace Resident, Selma Klein, Finds Joy through Painting and Sculpture

The famous 20^th-century artist Pablo Picasso said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Current findings in art therapy and music therapy would agree with this observation, as would the many MorseLife residents and staff who have experienced it for themselves.  Our residents have access to a range of leading-edge creative programs, from dancing and sculpting to playing musical instruments. We have witnessed firsthand how creative engagement enhances the quality of life and overall well-being.

We sat down with Selma Klein, a Levin Place independent living resident who radiates positivity and enthusiasm for life, to discuss her stunning artwork and what it means to her.  Selma, a newlywed woman who met her husband, Norman Berlant, at the Levin Palace and married late last year, has enjoyed painting and sculpting for more than 25 years.

“I was a vocalist in show business, and I decided to take up watercolor, oil painting, and sculpture as a way to take a break from work,” said Klein.  “I love the human figure and enjoy being creative through sculpting. It’s engrossing, and that’s exciting.”

Selma was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and resided in North Miami Beach for 45 years with her late husband.

“We were a great-looking couple, but he passed away soon after I moved to MorseLife, and I needed to find new ways to love life and stay positive.  MorseLife is a good place to do that with so many opportunities to stay active and social,” she noted.

Selma has participated in the many art classes offered at MorseLife. When COVID hit, she turned to the in-house programming provided on the television to continue to stay active and engaged.

“Even when I was at work alone painting in my kitchen during the pandemic, I felt transported to another place and time. Creativity does that to you. It’s important to wake up each day and choose to be happy, and painting and sculpting help me to do that,” added Klein.

MorseLife Honors Resident Veterans on November 11^th

100-Year-Old Veteran and Tradition Resident Bebe Cohan Shares His Personal Journey

This year leading up to Veterans Day, MorseLife spoke with 100-year-old Tradition resident and veteran, Bebe Cohan.  Cohan, who has lived at MorseLife for more than ten years, gave up the life of a big band drummer to serve his country during World War II.

“I was a drummer with the Charlie Spivak band and I remember we were playing in Washington, D.C.  when I met a member of the U.S. Navy Band,” said Cohan.  “As soon as I learned about it, I went straight down to the draft board to see if they would take me, but they weren’t taking people for the band.”

As it happened, Cohan was drafted not long after and attended the United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, and studied hard to become a Navy Hospital Corpsman. He was then sent to the highly reputed Bethesda Naval Hospital that often served members in Congress and other high-level government leaders.

After the war, Cohan continued as a musician before deciding to pursue a career in real estate.  Married to his late wife for more than 70 years, Cohan has three children.

“There are more than 30 courageous veteran seniors, each with a unique story to tell, who live on the MorseLife campus,” said Keith Myers, President & CEO of MorseLife Health. “We are very proud to have these remarkable individuals in our care, and to be able to hear their inspiring life stories. These individual’s experiences are wonderful reminders of the resiliency of the human spirit.”

MorseLife commemorated Veterans Day for Tradition and Palace residents during a pre-taped television ceremony and staff delivered certificates of appreciation to each veteran in their residences.

June Is Men’s Health Month

MorseLife Resident, Norman Berlant, Shares Tips on Living a Long Healthy Life

June is Men’s Health Month and a time to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. To mark this important cause, we sat down with one of MorseLife’s residents, Norman Berlant, who is 90 years young and full of life, to hear his words of wisdom on longevity.

“The last time I spent the night in a hospital was 60 years ago,” said Berlant. “I attribute my health to good luck and good genes,” Berlant said.

While luck certainly does play its role, there is more to it. Berlant also believes that living a consistently moderate lifestyle has kept him healthy throughout the years.  “I am a retired CPA, and CPA’s are generally moderate people,” he joked. “I don’t drink more than one drink a day, and I’ve never smoked. I’ve never been one to do anything in excess.”

In terms of diet and exercise, Berlant said that he lived a sedentary lifestyle up until retirement with little exercise. “I have never been a particularly healthy eater either,” he added.

A resident at the Levin Palace independent living community, Berlant now enjoys daily walks around the campus and tries to work out at the gym 45 minutes each day. Since the COVID-19 crisis erupted, Berlant has been participating in MorseLife-sponsored virtual workout classes, offered daily on his television.

“I do go to all of my regular checkups and follow my doctor’s orders closely,” he added. “They are the experts and I listen to what they tell me to do, because I know it is for my own good.”

When asked if he had any advice for younger generations, he said, “Don’t be careless with your health. I see all these young people on the news disregarding COVID-19 safety measures put in place to protect them and they are putting themselves and others in jeopardy. It’s very shortsighted thinking.”

Moving To MorseLife:
A Decision to Care for Herself and Her Husband

In her apartment on the fifth floor of The Tradition at MorseLife, Libby Klein’s living room is adorned with photographs of her beautiful family, including bar and bat mitzvah memories, weddings and anniversaries.  Peering throughout the room, Libby notes how blessed she has been over the years as she comes to terms with the passing last December of her beloved husband of 67 years, Seymour.

Libby and Seymour lived in Brooklyn where they married and made a home for them and their three children.  Seymour had been a successful financial advisor on Wall Street after serving in the military during and after World War II, and Libby had been a teacher and real estate broker in Manhattan for nearly 45 years, as well as a published author.

“After the children were grown, we bought a home in Boynton Beach and became snowbirds for nearly 18 years,” she said.  “However, after Seymour became progressively worse with Alzheimer’s disease, we decided to remain here full-time with the help I needed to care for him.”

Libby noted that she could have been stubborn when her children intervened and suggested that she could no longer care for Seymour on her own.  “We had a gorgeous home in Boynton and we were so happy there,” she said   “But the reality was Seymour needed more than just an aide coming to the home – and that’s when my children told me about MorseLife.”

After great consideration, Libby decided to move to The Tradition at MorseLife, with Seymour across the campus in the Memory Care Assisted Living residence.   “He received very good care throughout his time in the memory care residence, and I was able to walk over every day to spend quality time with him,” she said.   “I always felt the residence was a warm, comfortable place for Seymour with all of its care and activities, and of course, the smell of chicken soup wafting from the open kitchen!”

Libby noted that she felt it was smart to listen to her childrens’ advice as the move was the right decision for her.   “When we moved here two years ago, I knew that at The Tradition, I wouldn’t have to worry about the daily responsibilities of running a home, and even more important, would not have to take on the daily needs of Seymour on my own,” she said.  “While I did spend a great deal of time with Seymour each day, I also knew that I was leaving him in good hands when I went back to my apartment.”

Seymour passed in December, and today Libby is focused today on spending time with her good friends at The Tradition and maintaining regular contact with her family and friends in New York.   “My goal now is to visit my family in Scarsdale in August, enjoying time with all of my children, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren,” she said.  “I am looking forward to it!”

When she returns, she looks forward to finishing her second novel, a follow up to her crime novel of two years ago, Sudden Impulse, and to taking more time to be prolific and creative.