Marilyn and Alan Bornstein had a long history of involvement in the Louisville Jewish community. Their family was very important to them, as was their sense of commitment and connection to the Jewish community.
Marilyn was a well-respected family therapist at Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS) for many years, following her first career as a medical technologist. Alan was a much loved, well respected doctor, described by many as the “physician for other physicians.” They were married for 56 years, and their home was often the gathering place for holiday celebrations and general entertaining.
Unfortunately, both Marilyn and Alan became ill and passed away. Their children, wanting to recognize their parent’s love of family and community decided to endow a fund at JFCS, The Marilyn and Alan Bornstein Fund for Family Therapy. This fund will provide financial assistance to families so that they can access family therapy services.
Marilyn, especially in her role as a therapist, saw the enormous value that couples receive from having a safe, professional place to work on relationships, learn new skills in communication and problem solving and work out hurts or problems. Many couples have difficulty affording the cost of such services, so this new fund will have a huge impact.
The fund was started by Susan Bornstein and David Fox, Brian Bornstein and Christine Emler, andJoan Bornstein, who said, “Mom loved her work at JFCS. Although it was her second career, it was the one where she found the greatest fulfillment.
“The fund is a way of recognizing our parents’ many contributions to the community over the years,” they added, “while allowing their good works to continue. We are grateful to JFCS for working with us to establish the fund and hope that families who might have not have been able to afford their services will now be able to do so, as both of our parents were committed to helping people regardless of their ability to pay.”
Judy Freundlich Tiell, executive director of JFCS first met Marilyn when Marilyn was a board member at JFCS and later valued the opportunity to be a colleague. “We are so grateful to Marilyn and Alan’s children for starting this fund. We are honored to have JFCS be connected to the memory of Marilyn and Alan, who personified commitment to family a