Who was Joyce Zeff?
Most people, if asked to answer this question about themselves, would want the answer to be as long as possible, containing all of their achievements, contributions and qualities. Not so Joyce Zeff. In fact, in her case, one wonders whether she would even answer the question.
Here was truly a humble person. One could walk into a large and crowded room and, if she were there, never guess that it contained one of the pillars of the community. She did nothing to make herself stand out. It was in her nature to be this way. Her deeds were in inverse proportion to any need for recognition or status.
It was Joyce Zeff who made it possible for the oldest agency in Denver Jewry, the Jewish Family Service of Colorado, finally to graduate from a critical yet somewhat marginal, underfunded agency to the major player it is, and deserves to be, today. Yet, for all Joyce Zeff would let you know, you never would know that the Zeff name adorns the top of the first independent office building that JFS has ever had.
Ditto, Zeff’s additional, major contributions to JEWISHcolorado and we don’t know how many other agencies and charitable organizations. The Zeff contribution is there; the Zeff fanfare is absent.
It is notable what Joyce Zeff chose to support. Clearly, JFS, which was at the heart of her interests, reflected her compassion, her concern for others — for immigrants, the unemployed, the challenged, the troubled, the hungry.
It is appropriate, at this sad time when Joyce Zeff has left us for her eternal reward, to recall her late husband Kal Zeff, who was cut from the same cloth. His support for Israel included an outsized contribution to Israeli technology through the Technion, his alma mater. To our knowledge, no press release ever went out about this gift. How many others there were like it, we don’t know.
For some people their actions speak louder than their words. In the case of the Zeffs, there were only actions, no words. Understated, gentle, vulnerable, compassionate, Joyce Zeff lived with a very light touch. She was a rare gift. Her like is not to be seen soon again. She was a gem, almost a hidden gem, in our community. She is deeply missed.
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
