Photo Gallery

Institute for Learning in Retirement in Boca Raton

A Lifelong Learning Program

OUR FACILITATORS

Bari Attis grew up in the Washington DC area, earned a BA in Journalism with a minor in English from George Washington University, and was a science writer at the National Institutes of Health for eight years. After moving to Boca Raton with her family, in 1980 she became Assistant Librarian and then a teacher at Saint Andrew’s School. Bari went back to school and earned an MA in English from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. In her 35 years at Saint Andrew’s, she taught students in grades 10, 11, and 12, and in all levels from ESOL to Honors English to Advanced Placement (AP). She also served in a variety of administrative roles at Saint Andrew’s, spending the longest time--16 years--as Chair of the English Department, and was awarded the title of Master Teacher. Bari especially enjoys reading and discussing literature. She is looking forward to co-teaching The Joy of Poetry with Nan this semester and to offering a new course in Short Stories. 

Fritz Aufdencamp is a guest preacher at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton.  A graduate of Trinity Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, he served churches in Montana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. After three heresy trials in the 70's, he became a therapist a the Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he served as Director of the Addictive Behaviors Unit until his retirement in 2012. He presently plays the ukulele for Retirement Homes and grade school children at Liberty Park Elementary School.

John Gabrielson has many degrees including a BA (Drew Univ.), M.A.T. (Colgate University), M.A. (earned in England). John taught H.S. English for 35 years in suburban, northern New Jersey at Pascack Valley Regional High School and was instrumental in developing award-winning, multi-disciplinary Writing Center Program. In retirement, he was the co-owner and operator of J&M Antiques in Red Bank, NJ and other NJ locations. John co-leads Poetry and has presented What's It Worth, the ILIR version of Antique Roadshow.

Dr. Marie Gabrielson was a career educator who transitioned into running her own consulting business for corporate training in NJ. She, her husband John, and standard poodle spend their time between NJ and FL. Their adult son lives nearby in FL. Marie taught Values Clarification.  Her husband is a presenter of the ILIR version of the Antique Roadshow titled What's It Worth? in SPOTLIGHT: Arts and Literature.

Nan Ganyard   

grew up in Worcester MA, earned a BA in English and History at Drury College in Springfield MO, and an MA in International Relations from Clark University in Worcester MA. Nan worked for the US government, where she met her husband Peter Ganyard, an early supporter of ILIR. Nan has taught English and History at schools in New Jersey and Winnipeg, Canada. In Florida, she taught at Pope John Paul II and Boca Raton Academy before spending 26 years teaching English at Saint Andrew’s School. Nan loves reading, travel, classical music, and good conversation. Peter sends his best wishes to ILIR and a reminder to the men that poetry is for them too.

Jacobo Goldstein, Honduran-born,  has the distinction of being the first Latin America correspondent to the White House, a career spanning from the Carter to the Bush administrations. He shares his insights, anecdotes and experiences from his award-winning career. He also does daily radio broadcasts in Spanish to Latin American countries. He conducts Analyzing the News for ILIR each week.

Joel Ivers  is an experienced business executive who has been COO/CEO of five different companies in the biomedical and IT markets, beginning his career at Johnson and Johnson. Joel has over 30 years of experience in strategic marketing, licensing, business development, operations, and senior management in both large corporations and start-up companies.  Joel has also managed two seed-stage $10M- $13M Venture Capital funds. Since retiring in 2014, Joel has been a volunteer mentor for start-companies in South Florida. Additionally, because of his deep interest and participation in politics during his lifetime, he has been a volunteer Facilitator for the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILIR) in Boca Raton and currently facilitates the Current Events course. Joel holds a B.S. in Chemistry from The University of Redlands (Redlands, CA) and a M.A. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN). He also did graduate level work in business at Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH). 

Geoffrey Kashdan was born in New York and spent the early years of his professional life in New Jersey where he taught children with a variety of handicapping conditions. He was a founding principal of a state school for severely handicapped children and young adults.  He taught certification courses for exceptional education teachers at a local college. Moving to Florida in 1986 Geoff was a learning strategist in middle schools. He also became active in both the ACLU of Palm Beach County and the PBC League of Women Voters. After retiring Geoff started a presentation series he calls MIND ODYSSEYS. Those presentations are what he brings to the ILIR

Monica Kramer, MA LPC, practicing psychotherapist. Monica's first degree was in elementary education. She returned to school at age 52 to become a psychotherapist and has been practicing for the last 15 years. Monica moved to Boca Raton two years ago to live closer to her children. She loves the movies and is a regular in Film Club. 

Susan LaDuca, Ph.D.,(TempleUniversity 1993) Is a retired licensed family therapist, having had a private practice in Philadelphia for over 30 years with expertise in interfaith marriage. She served as supervisor for the Pa. Assoc. For Marriage and Family therapy. A New Yorker at birth, Susan grew up in New Jersey where she met her husband in high school. They moved to N.Y. where  their two daughters were born. She and Tony moved full time to Boca from their longtime home in Philadelphia. Volunteer activities include  participation in local politics  as an Abington township Democratic committee person, volunteer for the American Red Cross, and founding member of the Women’s Center of Montgomery Township. Susan has been an avid film lover since her teens. At ILIR, Susan has taught classes on The Genogram and co-facilitates the ILIR Film Club with her husband Tony.

Tony LaDuca, Ph.D.,  during a professional career of 45 years, has always worked in education. Beginning as a science teacher at Brooklyn Technical High School, Tony ended his active working life with 25 years at the National Board of Medical Examiners in Philadelphia. He earned a PhD in Secondary Education and Curriculum. He has authored articles and book chapters and has presented scientific papers and workshops on three continents. Tony resides in Boca Raton with his wife of 53 years, Susan. At ILIR, he has been the facilitator of Aristotle's Bistro and co-facilitates the ILIR Film Club with his wife Susan.  

Drew Martin, Conservation Chair of the Sierra Club for Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. Drew was elected and served for eight years as a member of the Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District. He served as a member of the Palm Beach Solid Waste Advisory Board. He also serves on the National Sierra Club Waste Minimization Committee.

E. Jane Robinson, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and founder of the Center for Child Counseling. Jane believes that play changes the brain, creates fun and joyful relationships and that play makes you smarter, healthier and less stressed at any age. 

Ata Sarajedini, Dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University, is the "host" of SPOTLIGHT: Science and Environment. Ata is a leading astronomer and researcher. Each ILIR session, FAU professors share their research and fascinate ILIR participants with different scientific disciplines. 

​Judith Yellen is a retired publishing, advertising and marketing executive. Late in her career she provided writing training and consulting to corporate managers and executives as a founding partner of The Successful Writing Group. Judith teaches Short Stories.

If you would like to facilitate a class or have an idea for a class, please e-mail ILIR at ilirincinfo@att.net