The Raymond Plotkin Campership Fund
Loss comes in all forms. However, nothing can compare to the loss of a child.  On November 11, 2009, our beloved 18 year old nephew and cousin, Raymond Plotkin, a healthy young man, died unexpectedly due to complications from the H1N1 virus.  He was in his first semester as a freshman nuclear engineering student at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

My husband and I had visited with Raymond only a few weeks before his tragic and untimely passing.  I had the pleasure  of helping him purchase his first winter jacket, and as it turned out that purchase was made just days before the first snowstorm of the year, and the first snow Raymond had ever seen having grown up in Houston, Texas.  Pictures of him on Facebook making snow angels and throwing snowballs are etched in our minds forever. 

In Raymond's memory, our family is pleased to announce The Raymond Plotkin Campership Fund that has now been established at TBESOC, as a living memorial to Raymond.  Raymond loved going to the JCC camp in Houston, and we felt it would be a fitting tribute to him, to assist children from our temple community who might not be in a position to attend camp.  Sending our children to a Jewish camp is an important experience; a time for developing friendships, forming stronger bonds with Judaism and making lifelong memories. 

We thank all of our temple friends, clergy and administrators for reaching out and supporting our family during this very difficult time.  We have asked my sister and brother-in-law to offer some thoughts in their own words about their son, Raymond.

Sincerely,

Phyllis, Steve and Scott Blanc

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To our Temple Friends Across the Miles,

There are no words to convey how a parent feels when they lose a child.  A child, who possessed so much potential and optimism, who was bright and articulate and who could also laugh at himself and bring others to tears with the joy he would impart.   Our son, Raymond, was comfortable in any situation, and he made others feel comfortable just being around him.  Everyone loved Raymond and there was a reason why....because of the type of person he was.

When Raymond was growing up, he participated in Jewish pre-school, Jewish after-school programs and the Jewish Community Center's summer camp programs.  He attended religious school, had a Bar Mitzvah and was confirmed at Congregation Emanu El in Houston.  Raymond had eclectic tastes and many interests.   When he was younger, it was Pokemon cards and beanie babies, and as he became a young man, it was collecting Morgan silver dollars, playing poker (he won a Hadassah tournament last year) and being quite the entrepreneur by running an underground candy and cookie business at his high school to make extra money for college.  Above all, Raymond possessed a great comic wit and the timing to match.  Many would tell him that he would grow up to be a successful stand-up comedian rather than the nuclear engineer he planned to be.

Raymond was not really an outdoorsman, so his camp experience was in air-conditioned comfort, yet he still experienced "roughing it" nonetheless at overnights at the JCC complete with barbecues, swimming, camp songs and games.  He attended summers of Art Camp and later, Tennis Camp.  When Raymond was old enough, he couldn't wait for the opportunity to become a camp counselor, where he would be able to mentor children the way he was mentored as a camper.

We are so touched that Raymond's aunt, uncle and cousin want to honor Raymond's memory by helping provide a summer camp experience for another young person.  Our entire family has tried to turn our grief and loss into something positive, as it would have been Raymond's wish. 

Our hope is that this fund will continue to grow each year, so that other young people will be touched by it.  Who knows?  Perhaps they too, will "pay it forward" and benefit other young people, as our Raymond has now done in both his life and through his family, in death.

Thank you for allowing us to share Raymond's story with you.

Elaine and Ronnie Plotkin

Houston, TX

The Campership Fund is available to TBESOC member children who will be attending URJ Camp Newman or Swig, Camp Hess Kramer or Hilltop, Merage JCC Camp Haverim or Camp Yofi. We invite you to apply by sending a letter sharing why it is important to you to go to camp. For those who have attended in the past, tell about your experience and why you want to go back. The deadline to apply is March 15th. Please send all letters attn: Al Welland.