Volunteers of the Year: Buddy Voit and Heidi Gantwerk

I’d now like to invite Buddy Voit and Heidi Gantwerk to join me at the podium. No one exemplifies the values of an outstanding volunteer better than Buddy and Heidi.  And in fact, Beth Israel really is the second home for both of you.  This may be the first time that two spouses of previous Volunteers of the Year are being named Volunteers of the Year! 

Buddy Voit
At Beth Israel, Buddy plays guitar and song leads at High Holy Day family services. He works with the clergy, organizes the logistical aspects and leads the music of the High Holy Day family services. Buddy joined the Chai Band when it was formed in 2003 and has been playing at Shabbat and Soul Food services, b’nai mitzvah and Beth Israel events ever since. Buddy accompanies the youth choir when they rehearse every Sunday morning. And he taught Confirmation class for us in the 1980s.

Buddy practiced as a CPA until 1992, was later the CFO of two healthcare companies, and is now a partner in Accretive Services of San Diego.

Buddy’s participation in Jewish life began at home where his parents were active in synagogue life and leadership. His mother, Gerry Voit, served on the URJ board for 25 years. As a child, Buddy spent summers as a camper and then song leader at URJ camps; as a teen Buddy held leadership positions; as an adult, he taught in religious schools, led trips to Israel and helped to form a Jewish day school. Buddy is on the board of Camp Mountain Chai.
Buddy is married to Diane, a third-generation member of Beth Israel and a Volunteer of the Year in 2005. Their daughter Emma sings in the teen choir. Buddy’s older son, Marshall, is the inaugural Jewish Life Fellow for the Union for Progressive Judaism in Melbourne, Australia. His younger son, Aaron, recently returned from volunteering with Jewish World Service in El Salvador.

We are very privileged to honor Buddy Voit as a Volunteer of the Year at Beth Israel.

Heidi Gantwerk
Heidi Gantwerk is a dedicated Beth Israel Board member and co-chair of our Strategic Vision initiative. Heidi often sings with the Chai Band, at Friday Night Chai musical Shabbat services, at Soul Food Shabbat, and at other Beth Israel musical events such as at Daytimers and many special concerts and cabarets. She is currently co-chairing the committee for the June 2 World of Jewish Music concert. Her husband, Andy Mayer, is the pianist for the Chai Band and a 2007 Volunteer of the Year.

Heidi is Vice President of Viewpoint Learning, a La Jolla-based firm that develops dialogues for business and public policy. Her career has focused on building bridges between communities. Heidi holds a B.A. in psychology from Yale University. She and Andy have three children, Isaac, Sebastian and Gabriel, all of whom are active in our music, youth and Religious School programs.
We are most grateful for your commitment to Beth Israel as a leader and for how you beautify our worship experiences through your inspiring singing. And since it happens to be your birthday today, please allow us to sing to you, Yom Huledet Same'ach.

Thank you to Heidi and Buddy, our Volunteers of the Year!