RONNIE BERLAND
Westwood

Ronnie grew up in Ohio, graduated from Wellesley College and, at the age of 32, with three young daughters, returned to graduate school.  She received her M.A. in political science and after being advanced to Ph.D. candidacy at UC Berkeley, began teaching political theory, constitutional law and public policy at Berkeley and the University of San Francisco.

In the late 80’s, she became a real estate broker, work she continued until her move here in 2000.  While in San Francisco she volunteered at Planned Parenthood and also began a docent training program at the Fine Arts Museums where she continued docenting until her move.

Wanting a more active and sunnier outdoor life, she retired to her version of the Sun Belt, L.A., where she enjoys her morning walks in Holmby Park, her garden and lap swimming.  She’s an avid duplicate bridge player, continues her involvement with Planned Parenthood, enjoys a Great Books club and looks forward to her return to “academic” life through PLATO.

I was born… and still am … a New Yorker.  I crossed the Hudson for one year (1961) so my husband could accept an NIH grant at UCLA’s Brain Research Center.  We bought our home in Benedict Canyon in 1966.  I am still there.

I went to law school when my youngest child was three years old.  That was 30 years ago and I am now gleefully retiring to pursue other activities (not to escape the law, to which I am addicted).  I’m also obsessed with the Met Opera’s HD live transmissions. 
During the past six years I’ve run the Medoc marathon, studied Spanish in San Miguel de Allende, and traveled a lot.  I play a tenor recorder in the 37 piece Los Angeles Recorder Orchestra.

My first grandchild was born on my 69th birthday.  Twins came three months later, a fourth the following year.  I like my children.

MICHAEL BROWN
Ventura

I was born in Brooklyn but transplanted to Los Angeles when a child.  I attended Santa Monica City College, UCLA,, and medical school at USC.  After a year of residency at UCLA, I was drafted into the Air Force and spent two years in the Philippines.  After returning from the Air Force I spent three years in a radiology residency at the University of Oregon, and then moved to Ventura where I still live.

I had married Mary Lou while in med school and have three children.  I worked as a radiologist until very recently, and am in the process of adjusting to retirement.

My free time is spent reading, playing chess, bicycling, doing computer stuff, and keeping up on medical information.  I had been flying planes and gliders and may start again.  PLATO may be just the right thing to fill any extra free time.

JAY CHRISTENSEN
Northridge

Jay (Ed.D, University of Northern Colorado) retired from CSUN, 2006, after teaching Analysis of Communications for Business, 38 years.  He served in the educational profession for 45 years.  Jay still teaches U100 for first-year students. Jay works as a professional resume writer.  He serves on the Research Committee of CDI (Career Directors International), and is an  author of the report, MegaTrends,  “Resume and Application Fraud.”  In addition, Jay acts as a judge at three boardgaming conventions a year for the Talisman tournament.  He enjoys shorthand, opera, and reading non-fiction.  Dr.  Jay also plays the piano and clarinet.  He is married and has two sons.

Jay is a co-author of On-the-Job Communication for Business, Industry, Government, and the Professions.  Offices he has held include National President of the Business Forms Management Association, National Vice President of AISP, and L.A. President of ASM, and AMS.  Dr. Jay has a Web site on business writing (www.csun.edu/~vcecn006/index.html).

ALEXANDRA COWIE
Brentwood

Alex has lived in Oklahoma, Georgia, and British Columbia, but has spent most of her life in the Los Angeles area.   After graduating from UCLA in 1966 with a B.A. in anthropology, she completed two years of graduate work at UCLA toward an M.A. in folklore and mythology and took a leave of absence to travel.  After returning to Los Angeles, she changed course and completed the paralegal program at UCLA Extension. 

Alex has been a litigation paralegal for over 20 years, the last nine at two small boutique law firms in Westwood.  She retired in 2007.

She has been active in the American Association of University Women and was public policy co-chair for the San Fernando Valley branch for 3 years.  She maintains a passion for public policy issues and has been a member of a Great Decisions study group of the Foreign Policy Association for several years.

Her other passions are collecting tea caddies, lap desks, and other wooden boxes of the 18th and 19th centuries, working out at the gym, gardening, and travel.

WARREN FISH
Northridge

I am now in my fourth adult life. I began as a college professor of geography at SUNY New Paltz. I then became a manager for LeMar Textile Company in downtown Los Angeles. This was followed by getting a teaching credential and teaching 8th grade physical science at Paul Revere Middle School in Brentwood.

Now, in retirement, I expect to spend time planning and taking long independent trips to interesting places around the world with my wife; creating DVDs of my travel adventures; enjoying live theater and opera, as well as movies; spending time with our children and grandchildren; and enriching my intellectual life with the likes of the PLATO Society and auditing interesting courses at the university level. Finally, I am enjoying the pleasure of not having to wake up to an alarm clock!

ARNOLD FREED
Studio City

A native Angelino, Arnold grew up in the Fairfax area and went to UCLA.  After college Arnold had a stint in the peace time army and was stationed in Germany, taking full advantage of traveling opportunities.  On return to Los Angeles he began work in the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services [DPSS], initially as a social worker. Taking advantage of the Veterans Bill he got a masters degree in public administration and continued on in various administrative positions with the DPSS.

After retirement he and is wife, Fran, traveled in Europe, in Israel, and the

Orient.  He has pursued various interests including reading on a large variety of subjects, tennis, running, and weight work. He also enjoys the fruits (and vegetables) of his wife, Fran’s labor in the garden.

FRAN FREED
Studio City

Fran was born in Philadelphia where she went to school; finishing high school at Abington Friends. A B.A. degree at Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, a medical degree at Jefferson Medical College and an internship in Miami Beach followed, then a return to Philadelphia for a residency in pathology.  A trip to Israel led to two years practicing medicine there in Rehovoth and Beer Sheva.

Returning to the U.S., the east coast was no longer appealing so Fran moved to California. She first practiced at Good Samaritan Hospital later becoming a “valley girl” practicing at Tarzana, Encino and North Hollywood.  She also dabbled in the antique business for a number of years.

Married to Arnold, they have one daughter and two granddaughters. In retirement Fran has become a mushroomer, a gardener, and a knitter, as well as a volunteer.

DENNIS GALANTER
Brentwood

Dennis was born in Milwaukee but moved to Los Angeles in ’45 at age 10 when WWII was over and gasoline was plentiful.  It took him three years at UCLA, four years at the School of Dentistry at USC and two years at Columbia’s dental

school to become a periodontist. Upon his return to L.A. he taught periodontics at USC and opened an office at Wilshire and Westwood where he practiced for 35 years.

Dennis’ mid career crisis was handled by enrolling in the business school at Pepperdine where he received an MBA.

He is an active chamber music player, studying violin since he was five; he’s already found three like-minded musicians in PLATO with whom to play quartets.

He has traveled throughout the world (over 37 countries) with his wife, Gail, who he met on a blind date 54 years ago. 

JACK GORDON
Porter Ranch

Jack Gordon was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Wayne State University, majoring in accounting.  He passed the CPA exam, worked in Detroit until 1961, and then moved to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Jack was involved in planning many highly complex financial transactions with tax implications for U.S. clients, but with a specialty for Hong Kong’s titans of real estate and industry who owned property here in the U.S.  His work in this field took him to many countries in Asia and Europe.

He graduated from law school in Los Angeles and broadened his knowledge of legal and tax matters.
  
Jack retired in 1998.  Since then he has been involved with Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, also serving as president. Currently, he enjoys politics, his family, working with charitable organizations along with his wife, Barbara, travel to countries that he has researched extensively, reading, theater, good food, and a good movie now and then.

ALAN GREENBERG
Westwood

I am a native of New York City who came to L.A. in 1967. I am married and have 2 children from my first marriage and blended I have 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

My undergraduate degree is from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and my masters, in finance, is from Adelphi in New York.

My field of study was finance and economics, with a major in accounting. After my stint in public accounting I served with several multi-national corporations as a senior financial executive. Lastly, I was co-managing general partner of a real estate development company specializing in detached entry-level tract housing.

I have traveled extensively overseas for business and pleasure. My major interests are reading, tennis, hiking, cross-country skiing, bridge, and my grandchildren. I lived for 7 years in Santa Fe where I was a docent/lecturer on Spanish history in the Americas at the Museum of New Mexico

ILA GROBE
Pacific Palisades

Born in Chicago, Ila moved to Los Angeles with her parents and brother at the age of five. She grew up in West L.A., graduated Beverly Hills High and happily went off to UC Berkeley, her first great life adventure. After completing a B.A. at UCLA, Ila taught fifth grade, married and had two children. When her children started school so did Ila, to study journalism (her first love) at CSUN.
A career in public relations andcommunications began three years later. Job sharing was a new concept at the time, but she and a partner were able to trend-set in this novel approach, caring for a young family and pursuing work as well.

Camping, biking, hiking, backpacking, tennis, yoga and skiing have been favorite activities along with reading, writing, theater and photography. She has taught cooking, served on boards and led hikes for inner city youngsters. Adventure travel remains an important part of her life.

MELVIN KALECHSTEIN
Woodland Hills

Mel was born in the South Bronx-Hunts Point section of New York .  He attended James Monroe High School and the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. In the service, he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston.

Mel obtained an M.S. and Ph.D. from USC and began private practice as a Neuropsychologist and independent medical examiner for the California Department of Disability

Mel enjoys reading, particularly history and biography, working out in the gym, and traveling.   

PEARL KALECHSTEIN
Woodland Hills

Pearl was born in Queens, New York. Her family moved to California and Pearl (Wenkert) attended  Canoga Park High. Her B.S. and teacher's credential are from CSUN, but she also took courses at UCLA and Columbia.  She taught, marriedMel, and had two children, who have developed into great people.

Pearl earned an M.A. from CSUN in educational psychology and special education.  She helped found the Educational Therapists Association. She’s been in private practice as an educational therapist and marriage family counselor. Ultimately, she earned her Ph.D. at USC, but is now happily retired.  

MARILYN KANOSKIE
Studio City

As a graduate of Ohio State University, with both an undergraduate degree and a master's degree in social work, I am a devout Buckeye (and a not-so-secret Woody Hayes fan!).

My primary work focus was in the area of gerontology, although I also spent several years in adoptions, working with adoptive parent applicants.

I spent several years dealing with the issue of elder abuse, long before it became today's "sexy topic", and at one point served as a guest lecturer in UC Berkley's MSW program, the latter not particularly satisfying to me.  When my family returned to Southern California after several years in San Jose,   I eventually became director of a program providing in-home in-depth counseling for depressed at-risk homebound elderly.

If I ever write "the book" - as I've threatened for years - I'll begin by quoting a quite delusional 87-year-old who said, I've been to the North Pole, the South Pole, and looked over the edges of the earth and it was beautiful!"

LIBBY LADDIN
Westwood

Libby was born in Chicago and attended undergraduate and graduate studies in Illinois.  Her childhood goal was to become a ballet dancer and she pursued this and became a dancer, performing until approximately age 30.

She came to California in 1952, worked and continued her education over the years at USC, UCLA and Pepperdine Universities. Her various jobs included social caseworker, teacher, probation officer and, finally, a psychotherapist.  She adopted and raised two children during this period.

Libby’s interests include remaining fit through regular exercise, attending dance, theatre, and chamber music performances. She has a continuing interest in current events and political issues. She is pleased with her work in helping to rehabilitate juvenile and adult offenders as well as the victims of abuse.

ALICE (GENE) LEWIS
Pacific Palisades

Alice grew up in Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee with degrees in both mathematics (B.S.) and history (M.A.).  She came to UCLA to continue her graduate work in history, but, given the scarcity of jobs for historians, she switched careers to computer software development, a field in which she worked for over 20 years, most of those years in management.  Alice returned to UCLA to earn an MBA while she continued her career full-time. 

She has managed all software development functions, with expertise in organization and team building, software methodologies, project management, and customer relationships. After serving on the executive team of several companies, Alice retired a few years ago.

Alice met and married her husband shortly after arriving in L.A.  They have two children.  Alice has always been an avid reader, especially of non-fiction.  She enjoys gardening, theater, and bridge, has joined a history book club and a writing group, and is active in her children’s schools.

PAUL MARKOWITZ
West Hills

Paul was born here in Los Angeles; attended Los Angeles and Alhambra public schools.  He graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with an emphasis on politics and history.  He did graduate work in liberal arts and received his education credentials from USC.

Paul recently retired after 34 years as a elementary and middle school teacher with the Las Virgenes Unified School District.  During those years he was intimately involved with the Las Virgenes Educators Association and the California Teachers Association.  He served three cycles as President of the teachers association, totaling ten years.  He also was elected to the Board of Directors of the California Teachers Association, serving nine years on the Board.  

Paul is an avid tennis player.  He and his wife, Renee, are frequent play and movie goers.  Paul also reviews non-fiction books for armchairinterviews.com, a book review website.  He and is wife are actively involved in political activities.

HOWARD MARYLANDER
Santa Monica

Howard grew up in Northern California and has resided in the Los Angeles area since 1962.  He has an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from USC.He has been a market researcher for most of his business career, holding executive positions with Carnation (now Nestle), Mattel, and a large local marketing research firm.  
In 1974 he started his own marketing research consulting firm where he remained until 2007.

He is married with four children and three grandchildren and enjoys spending time with his family.  His leisure time activities include a passion for current events, jogging, and going to the gym. Howard is semi-retired. He serves as an expert witness on surveys for legal cases and is the Treasurer of his son’s business. 

His wife and one of his daughters are also active in his son’s business, and the challenges associated with that family involvement have been a particularly positive experience for him.

ROBERT MOORE-STEWART
Brentwood

Bob was born in San Francisco as one of the first postwar boomers in December, 1945. He grew up 15 miles south of San Francisco. He graduated from Stanford with a BA in biology, went to graduate school in psychology at UC Davis, and in 1973, moved to Victoria, British Columbia. There he taught elementary school and then entered law school at the University of Victoria in 1979.
Bob went on to practice law in Victoria for 23 years, retiring in April, 2007.  As a lawyer he had a widely varying practice as mostly a sole practitioner. Criminal law and other trial matters were the bulk of his practice.
Bob moved to Los Angeles at the close of 2007 to live with his long time friend and fellow PLATO member, Alexandra Cowie. In Los Angeles he has joined the Sierra Club, the Democratic Party, and PLATO.

IRWIN NEWBERG
Pacific Palisades

Irwin was born in Bessemer, Alabama and grew up in Miami and Cincinnati.
He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with an electrical engineering
degree, and attended graduate school at MIT. He served for three years in the U. S. Army at Fort Bliss, Texas.

He and his Brooklyn born wife, Joan, moved to Northridge in 1959, where he began his more than 40 year career at Hughes Aircraft and the Raytheon Company.
He is most proud of his research and development work in photonics and
radar system engineering,  which resulted in more than 20 patents.

Irwin enjoys collecting modern and contemporary art, and has taken annual trips to Santa Fe for the last twenty-five years. He frequents museums and galleries in Los Angeles and attends the theatre. What he enjoys most is mentoring his 8 and 10 year old grandsons, and being a cheerleader at their baseball and soccer games

LEN SCHNEIDERMAN
Santa Monica

Len retired from UCLA in 1993.  His pre, and post, retirement academic career has focused on issues related to social welfare
policy and program development in the United States and abroad, including a variety of assignments as professor and dean at Ohio State University, Indiana University and UCLA. He was United Nations Adviser to the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE); visiting scholar, Brookings Institution; consultant to committees of the United States Congress and California Legislature, and member of commissions appointed to address issues of homelessness and welfare reform in Los Angeles County. 

He is a UCLA basketball and Dodger fan and an enthusiastic cyclist returning most recently from a roll up the Elbe River from Berlin to Prague.  Following retirement he taught at Ben Gurion University and has long association with Israeli groups seeking a pathway to peace. 

JONAS SEINFELD
Malibu

This Brooklyn boy is curious, creative and casual.  He moved to L.A. after the Navy. and earned a degree in motion pictures at UCLA. Subsequently, Jonas worked in TV creating and selling two TV shows. He left for an outside marketing position creating sales programs while also applying for three patents which never materialized.

His wife passed away after 21 years. Jonas raised two sons and in his spare time enjoys writing, reading detective fiction and selective non-fiction.

He swims in the summer and works out. In winter his favorite things are movies, classical music, Broadway, big bands. Politics both interests and amuses him.
He likes to talk and visit with smart people and enjoys strong, classy, attractive women.

Ralph Walter
Westwood

Ralph is a senior partner of Kayne Anderson Capital Partners LP, an $8 billion non-traditional investment manager headquartered in Century City. He was previously chief operating officer and treasurer of Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, a sister firm that was sold to Phoenix Insurance. He also served as interim headmaster of the Kayne Eras Center, a non-public school serving children with disabilities.  It merged into the Exceptional Children’s Foundation this year.  

A native of Chicago, he came to L.A. in 2000. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Knox College, M.A. in economics from Indiana University, and D.Phil. in early modern theology from St. Alcuin House.  He participated in post-doctoral studies at the University of Chicago and Oxford University.

He serves on the boards of his undergraduate college, the American friends of Wycfille Hall Oxford, ECF, and the audit committee of the Fulfillment Fund.

YIHUA (EVA) WANG
West Los Angeles

Eva was born in Beijing, raised in Shanghai and went to the University of Hawaii for graduate studies where she received a M.A. degree in applied linguistics and an M.A. degree in Chinese linguistics. 

She has spent 30 years teaching at universities, including five years at Harvard and 21 years at UCLA.  She directed Chinese language programs and study abroad programs, also served as board member/consultant in a variety of local and international institutions and committees of foreign language teaching and learning.  Her research interest and publications include topics on second language acquisition, and textbooks of Chinese language and culture.

Eva has retired from full time teaching at UCLA, although she is still teaching part-time. Her favorite hobbies are travel, photography, reading, and museums.

LEWIS SAVAGE
Tarzana

(Bio not available.)

MICHAEL SCHNEIDERMAN
Beverly Hills

(Bio not available.)