The role of Dad has evolved, from a staunch disciplinarian to a guiding light who changes diapers, drives carpool, and might even stay at home while Mom goes to work.
According to their children, these Jewish Tidewater dads are generous with their time, community leaders who go the extra mile, and men who are fully present in their children’s daily lives – cheering from the sidelines and beyond. Happy Father’s Day!
Dr. Eric Werner
Abby Werner, Andrew Werner, and Jacob Werner
We are the proud children of Dr. Eric Werner and are excited to share a few of our favorite things about him with the readers of Jewish News.
Our father loves to spend time with his family and friends. At frequent family dinners, he’s busy working the grill, sharing jokes, and engaging in healthy debates at the table. His head-thrown-back joyful laugh often rings out across the room, and he always ends the night doing the dishes.
Baking chocolate cookies with him are cherished memories, and over the last several years he’s thrown himself into other hobbies as well, from biking and paddle boarding to more recently playing the guitar. It’s exciting to watch his life-long love of learning extend beyond medicine to other enjoyable pursuits as he nears retirement, just as busy as ever.
Most importantly, our father is a loving partner to his wife (of 48 years!) Alice and a true role model to each of us. He never hesi- tates to offer guidance or lend an ear, and he delights in spending time with his six grandchildren.
Happy Father’s Day! Abby, Andrew, and Jacob
ROB BERZ
Lily Berz and Amelia Berz
One thing to know about our dad is that he is a giver. Name a form of tzedakah and we promise you he’s off somewhere doing just that. At shul, he’s giving his time to the community. At work, he’s desig- ning innovative schools that simultaneously send energy back to the grid and fill students with excitement to learn. At home, he is (very slowly) building our amazing mom her dream house and instilling the values of giving in his kids.
Being as busy as he is, our dad did not sacrifice his time with us as we grew up. Some of our fondest memories are based around just spending time together as a family. In short, our dad never does bare minimum; we believe it is people like him who give a little extra to everything they do that make the world a better place.
We could write so much more about our dad, but in the name of brevity, we’ll have to save the rest for a later date and sign off by wishing our dad a Happy Father’s Day with some much-needed rest.
RABBI MICHAEL PANITZ
Emily Panitz, Ezekiel Panitz, and Morris Benjamin Panitz
A tribute to our father, Rabbi Michael Panitz, on this year’s Father’s Day.
To our father, the teacher: whose mastery of a wide range of topics is as broad as it is
deep; and whose lessons – whether in the college classroom or the synagogue – always enlighten and inspire.
To our father, the rabbi: who guides and supports his congregants with empathy, wisdom, and joy; who, like his own father, zichrono livracha, recognizes the necessity and significance of building a rabbinate deeply connected to adjacent communities: the academy, interfaith partners, and the broader Jewish community; and for whom the Torah is, indeed, a Tree of Life.
To our father, our father: who has instilled in us an enduring, lifelong commitment to learning and to Judaism; who, along with our beloved mother, has enriched our lives in so many ways; and who is, and continues to be, our foundation.
With gratitude and with love, Happy Father’s Day!
AARON PECK
Lisa Goldberg, Ellen Rosenblum, and Stephen Peck
Our Dad, aka Poppa, is a Superhero and Olympic Champion as
a father, father-in-law, and grandfather. He is the bedrock of our family, always leading by example when it comes to recognizing the importance of family, tzedakah, Israel, and in teaching us to be kind and generous to others.
A favorite family motto from Dad is “be strong like a bull.” By this he means for us to not only be physically tough but emotionally strong and believe in ourselves.
Dad’s home is always open for each of us as well as extended family and friends. He is a great listener and makes everyone feel important. He has taken us all over the world and on annual ski trips. Dad came to his grandkids’ birthday parties and graduations; attended baseball, golf, and swim matches, volleyball, basketball, and wrestling tournaments, debated politics, played cards, swam in the ocean, and took us for fancy dinners and enormous buffet brunches!
Dad’s thoughtful intelligence and kindness provide us with a compass to move forward with our own important life decisions. Our beloved Poppa is funny, sweet, sassy, intelligent, humble, generous, always fun to be with, and gives the best hugs and kisses in the whole world!
JOHN STRELITZ
Julia Strelitz Steinway, Jacqueline Strelitz
Halberg, and Joseph Strelitz
From the outside, our dad might seem like the loudest voice on the Norfolk Academy sidelines or the most animated player at a Cavalier tennis match. But anyone who knows him knows that behind the passion is a man with a heart as big as his voice.
He never missed a game, a recital, or a moment that mat- tered. He’s the dad who taught his sons-in-law how to ski, the grandpa—Yoni—who gets on the floor to play with Bella and Bea, building block towers and singing songs like it’s the most important meeting of his day.
What he’s taught us, more than anything, is the importance of showing up—not just for family, but for community. He’s a natural leader, and his deep commitment to the Tidewater Jewish community has shaped our lives. Through his work with the Federation, JCC, JFS, and unwavering support for Israel, he’s shown us that giving back isn’t a responsibility—it’s a privilege.
Philanthropy isn’t just something he does; it’s who he is. His generosity, integrity, and drive to lift others inspire us daily. We hope to carry forward his legacy of leadership and love—with the same passion, purpose, and presence he’s given us every step of the way.
