Attorney Lila Roomberg Dies at 93
Lila G. Roomberg, who was the first female partner at Ballard Spahr, died March 17. She was 93.
Roomberg spent 31 years at Ballard Spahr starting in 1959 as a clerk/librarian and during her career was involved in financing 75 health care facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. She was named the firm’s first female partner in 1971. She also was its first Jewish partner.
Roomberg wrote “Turning Adversaries Into Allies in the Workplace” in 1999 and often assisted young women starting law careers. She described a job search after graduating from New York University School of Law — financed by working as a payroll clerk in a necktie factory — that included being turned down by numerous firms that wouldn’t hire a woman as a lawyer.
She also was known for her fearlessness. In the 1970s, she was mugged in Center City, then chased after her assailant, screaming to attract assistance. The man dropped her purse, but she and others continued the pursuit until police apprehended the mugger.
In 2000, Roomberg received the Sandra Day O’Connor Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association. She was honored with the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession in 2010, and received its Anne X. Alpern Award in 2002, recognizing excellence in the profession and significant professional impact on women in the law.
Ballard Spahr named a conference room in Roomberg’s honor in 2017.
Kaiserman JCC Names Interim CEO
Outgoing Kaiserman JCC CEO Amy Krulik announced March 16 that Jay Steinberg will serve as the organization’s interim CEO while a search committee works to find a permanent replacement.
Steinberg has worked in Philadelphia-area JCCs in a number of capacities, including as director at the Klein JCC and as director of development for the JCCs of Greater Philadelphia. He also raised money to support the 2001 JCC Maccabi Games that were hosted at the JCC.
Krulik announced in February that she leaving the JCC to become the executive director of Main Line Reform Temple. She has been CEO since 2017.
Former Area Resident’s Short Film Nominated for NAACP Image Award
“Gets Good Light,” a short film produced by Elizabeth Phillipson-Weiner, who grew up in Lower Merion, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Short Film (Live Action) category.
Phillipson-Weiner also wrote the music for the short film, which stars Cedric Leiba Jr., Edmond Cofie, Jessica Pimentel and Catherine Curtin. The film centers around a luxury condo that becomes a brief refuge for a family targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Phillipson-Weiner, who is now based in New York, has 24 composer credits, according to imdb.com, as well as 11 producer credits.
Jewish Federation Helps Organize Vaccine Clinic
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Kehillah of Old York Road partnered with Wellness Pharmacy Services on March 19 to provide 1,400 vaccine shots in a single day for community members, most 65 or older.
Community members received their first shot at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park and will return for their second dose in April.
Kayly Sei, president and co-founder of Wellness Pharmacy, asked the two organizations for help in serving the 65-plus community, and in less than four days they had a plan and an organized program.
To assist with the technological aspects, the Jewish Federation created a one-day phone bank to schedule 50 appointments for each 15-minute increment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments were available by phone only.
