- Meet Our Leaders
Susan Kolb, Board President and extraordinary JFCS and community leader for many decades, loves everything about us, from our programs at Parents Place andSeniors At Home to services that help those in urgent need. We recently sat down with her to learn more about her history and dedication to JFCS and the Jewish community.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I grew up in a wonderfully warm and embracing Jewish community in Oakland and moved to Los Angeles when I was 13. I went to high school there and college at UCLA.
How did you become involved in the Jewish community?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t involved in the Jewish community. My family was always committed, and I’ve always had a strong identity. My two greatest influences were my mother, Gertrude Key, and my mother-in-law, Hannah Kolb, who came from a long line of rabbis.
How did you become connected to JFCS?
I always knew about JFCS because of my work in the Jewish community, but I really came to know JFCS back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the agency took the lead in helping resettle tens of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union. I came on the Board 10 years ago. I’ve always loved JFCS because we do so much for so many—from the very young to the very old. Wherever there is a need, we fill it.
Why do you remain active with JFCS, and how do you encourage others to become involved?
Working on behalf of JFCS is incredibly gratifying and fulfilling. I am thrilled that we can help so many people. I am always telling people to learn more about JFCS—to take a tour of the agency or to attend one of its galas. I think that we all have a duty to fulfill tikkun olam, and that the best way to do so is through JFCS.
Tell us about your family.
I was married to Dr. Felix Kolb, an endocrinologist, for 42 years. We met while we were both working at UCSF. He died in 2008. We created a named fund in his honor at JFCS—the Felix Kolb M.D., Medical Assistance Fund—which provides assistance for people who cannot afford their medications and other vital services, such as home care and skilled nursing. I have two grown children and three grandchildren. I am blessed that they all live closeby. They have attended the JFCS Fammy Gala with me several times, and my son served on a number of the agency’s committees.