ESCAPING FROM VIENNA IN 1940 WASN'T EASY SAYS SHOAH SURVIVOR REGINA SPIVACK

In 1940, Vienna, Austria was crawling with Nazis wearing their hated swastika armbands and the ever present Gestapo agents with a mission to round up Jews. 91-year-old Margate and Philadelphia resident Regina Spivack recalls for HM an experience two years earlier on Crystal Night when the Gestapo visited their home in the middle of the night while she and her family were asleep. They took her father to his cap shop. They accused him of hiding arms, a false charge, and arrested him, but both parents (Russian born) somehow survived and left Vienna in 1939 to Moscow- allowed to leave under a quota system and an agreement between Hitler, Stalin and Molotov. They eventually got to Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Regina stayed with neighbors until she was 19, then departing Vienna going first to Berlin. Her family's experience was similar to that of Rae Steinberg profiled in a recent HM column. Her perilous trip took her to Korea and Japan and a long boat trip across the Pacific to Hawaii and then San Francisco. "The boat trip on a Japanese vessel was a nightmare with terrible and sickening food, but I finally got to San Francisco and in November 1940 arriving in Philadelphia," said Spivack, adding, "we were lucky to get away." Regina worked for General Electric after working for a ceramics factory in Trenton while her husband, Walter, became an orthodontist retiring in 1972 They split their residence between Philadelphia and Margate owning a Downbeach home which they bought in 1970. She has a son, Edward Spivack, who resides in a Mainland community. Rae and Regina will obviously get together to share their experiences.

STOCKTON COLLEGE GERONTOLOGIST DAVID BURDICK SHEDS LIGHT ON WHY SOME REACH 90

It's a puzzling question as to why the 90-plus age group is expanding, but those I know will say it's family genetics with a combination of good living. That means eating the proper and nourishing foods, not drinking a lot, never have been a smoker and exercising mildly. Stockton College Professor of Psychology and Gerontology David Burdick has a theory which the college's recently established Center for Successful Aging is exploring that they believe is genetics. This area has a number of 90-plus year-olds active in the Jewish community such as 91-year-old Sidney Newberg (Margate) treasurer of BERON JOAS, and 90-year-old

Edward R. Knight, Ph.D,, Chairman Emeritus of the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and AtlantiCare Foundation board member and a 30- year Federal magistrate and area attorney. Geriatrician, Dr.Ira Stein, medical director of the Dr. Leonard Erber Clinic at the H.G. Rosin Senior Center also said it's genetics and he tells his patients "live well and you can live longer." We can recall the late Dr. Erber practiced medicine into his late 80's and made house calls. But as people grow older they develop health problems which can be controlled with medications and the guidance of their doctors.

THE ROSIN CENTER HAS MANY ACTIVITIES WITH DIRECTOR GAIL SCHERZER TALKING UP BASEBALL

We never cease to wonder about the many daily activities at the Rosin Center, which is healthy for its clients who are so busy they forget about being old for a few hours a day. For example, one day at the center marked the birthday of Audrey Perskie, founder of the BERON Jewish Older Adult Services (JOAS). Center Director Gail Scherzer said about Audrey: "She is a vital force in the success of BERON JOAS to this very day." Congratulations Audrey, you deserve the accolades. And on the mind of Scherzer, the center's major league baseball cheerleader, baseball is "America's national pastime." One of Scherzer's favorite expressions has to be "take me out to the ballgame!" She recalls the legends of the game - Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax (Jewish and we can't forget the other great Jewish star Hank Greenberg), Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. "Play ball!" she would shout.

NEW NJ ARTS COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISA COOPER, WANTS TO CARRY ON LILLIAN LEVY'S GOALS

Lillian Levy was clearly South Jersey's cultural icon and arts advocate as a member and then chairperson of the New Jersey Council on the Arts, and after her passing filling her shoes seemed to be a difficult goal. She clearly put South Jersey and this area on the state's cultural map. However, the appointment of

Alisa Cooper - Linwood resident, county freeholder, music teacher and owner of a music and entertainment agency - to the Arts Council Board, opens the possibility that Cooper can in the future be a worthy successor to Levy. "That's my goal", she told HM. "I fondly remember Lillian Levy who was chair of the council and was so passionate about the arts in our area. At the present time my objective is to work with other council members and become deeply involved. And I would certainly aspire someday to follow in the prestigious footsteps of Lillian Levy who was such a strong advocate for the arts in South Jersey. Attending my swearing in were my husband, Doug Little, our son, David, and Michael Cool, executive director of the Stockton PAC." Alisa was a good choice for the board.