[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2166-E2167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE DICKSTEINS AND THE BILMES

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 1995

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise our colleagues that 
my home synagogue, Temple Sinai in Middletown, NY, will be honoring two 
outstanding couples as Distinguished Members of the Year at a banquet 
to be held on Saturday night, November 18.
  Sharon and Allen Dickstein met when both were counselors at a Jewish 
federation summer camp. After marriage and settling in Middletown 
nearly a quarter a century ago, they became active members of our 
Temple. Allen has served on the board of trustees of the Temple 
continuously since 1973. He was president for the year 1977-78, served 
on the executive board, and held the positions of USY Director and 
chairman of the ritual committee. Allen serves our Temple as Gabbai, 
the lay leader of services. Allen was a founding member of Jewish 
Family Service and still serves on that group's board of directors.
  Sharon is currently on the executive board and board of trustees as 
second vice-president. She sits on the board of education as executive 
board liaison, and is a member of the Sisterhood of Temple Sinai. 
Sharon is a member of Hadassah, and is a founding member of the Hebrew 
Day School of Orange County.
  Together, Allen and Sharon have embodied the spirit of service to 
community as well as of family values. Allan works as a social worker 
and has been especially active in establishing shelters for the 
homeless and teaching classes for expectant parents. Sharon has been an 
educator for a quarter century, and has served as principal of 
Bicentennial Elementary School in Port Jervis for the past 6 years. 
They are the parents of Debra, Joshua, Aaron and Michael.
  Frances Eve and Murray Bilmes met on a blind date in March 1954 and 
married 6 months later. Soon after their marriage, they formed a law 
partnership which still thrives today. Residents of our region since 
1957, they have been members of Temple Sinai since 1960. 

[[Page E 2167]]

  Frances served on the board of trustees for over 25 years and was 
president of Sisterhood. Frances was president of Hadassah for 6 years, 
and served on the board of Jewish Family Services. Professionally, she 
was the founder of the Tri-County Women's Bar Association. She was also 
president of the Pine Bush PTA.
  Murray, Bilmes, a Navy veteran of World War II, also served on the 
board of trustees, but is especially known for over 30 years of service 
on the board of education, part of which time he served as chairman. 
Murray was a part of the three member committee which drafted the 
original constitution of the Middletown Hebrew Association, now known 
as Temple Sinai.
  Frances and Murray are the parents of five children: David, Jonathan, 
Orah, Joshua, and Noah. Regrettably, the Bilmes are leaving us, for a 
well earned retirement in Florida. They will long be missed.
  Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to salute these four outstanding people. 
They have been an inspiration to their community, and I am honored to 
join in paying tribute to them.

                          ____________________