OROVITZ, JIM. Born July 17, 1936 in Miami to Ruth and Max Orovitz, passed away peacefully at his Coral Gables home on Sat., Oct 13, 2012. Jim was a natural-born leader who first showed his leadership ability as an 11-year-old 6th grader when he led a successful slow-down and work stoppage of fellow student-workers demanding free dessert for washing dishes in the North Beach Elementary School cafeteria. Leadership qualities continued to emerge at Miami Beach Senior High School where he served as junior class president and president both of the National Honor Society and Key Club. He was also the founding president of Allied Youth, an early effort to discourage teenage smoking and drinking. Jim was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1958, where he was a member of the Phi Lambda Pi Fraternity. Later that same year, he married his only true love, Nancy Bloom. Together, they had three wonderful children who survive him: Robert Jay (Stephanie) Orovitz; Kathy Ann (Jim) Kramer; and Mark Stuart (Vicki) Orovitz. In addition, he leaves his beloved grandchildren: Samantha and Michelle Orovitz; Michael and Lauren Kramer; and, Alexa and Maxwell Orovitz. He is also survived by devoted siblings Felicia (the late Dr. Richard) Deutch, Michael (Norma) Orovitz, Simon (Nancy) Bloom, dearest cousin Susan Rosen, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends. Upon graduation, Jim worked at General Development Corporation, learning all phases of the real estate business. He was then engaged by Eagle Army Navy Stores, where he supervised all Florida store operations outside Dade and Broward counties. In addition, he built/ leased and opened over 100 new stores, statewide, in a five-year period. In 1969, Jim chose to become self-employed and began looking to purchase an operating business. In the meantime--which lasted his lifetime--he opened a home-office and developed various types of commercial properties, including strip-shopping centers, warehouses and office buildings. This ultimately gave him both a fulfilling career while enabling him to enjoy significant quality time with his children and grandchildren. He was particularly pleased when the neighborhood kids would knock on his door and ask "Mrs. Orovitz, can Jimmy come out and play?" Jim liked all kinds of games, especially playing cards with his children after school. That joy of cards and family carried forward to his last days with both his children and grandchildren. Jim also loved sports and, for many years, had season tickets to the Dolphins, Heat and Hurricanes. However, his favorite pastime was fishing, either in the backwaters of the Everglades or deep-sea fishing in the Gulfstream. His love for the water began when he was three years old and his family spent summers in their house in Stiltsville. (Getting out of the city was then thought to be a way to protect children from contracting polio.) Though interested in both business and family, he was equally committed to community service, a character-trait he attributed to his father. His community leadership style was exemplified by good humor, quiet but firm demeanor, genuine warmth and quick intelligence. In 1971, he was appointed to the inaugural Board of Trustees of Florida International University. During the next 19 years, he served there as both Vice Chairman and Chairman. His proudest achievement at FIU was the role he played in bringing the first dormitories to the Tamiami campus. He did this by pledging his own personal resources, while he successfully solicited the local banking community to participate in the project. He was also an early member of FIU's Tower Society and Founders Society. For 45 years, Jim served on the Board of Trustees of Mt. Sinai Medical Center. He began as a charter member of the Sustaining Board of Fellows, later becoming its President; he then served on every major standing committee of the Board of Trustees. In 1981, he was elected Chairman of the Board; and during his tenure, the hospital flourished and expanded with many new and innovative programs. Also, he was a member of the Medical Center's two most prestigious fund raising organizations, the Founders Club, and the Society of Mt. Sinai, serving as chairman of the latter. Jim was the founding President of MOSAIC, which evolved into the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. Additionally, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the National Parkinson's Foundation, as well as a member of its Ambassador Group. Jim resisted change whenever possible, as was illustrated by living in only one home for 35 years and then at Deering Bay for the next 16 yrs. At his Deering Bay Cond. he was the first Association president and served in that role for 10 years. Jim and Nancy spent more than two decades at their Aspen, CO, summer home where they enjoyed tennis, golf, hiking, rafting and skiing with their children and grandchildren. When health issues dictated a change, they summered in Lenox, MA, for the next 11 years where they enjoyed golf, music, theatre and day-trips with their extended family of friends. Jim's serious health problems began in 1994 with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Subsequently, he battled and survived multiple and severe bouts of cancer, but finally succumbed to the metastatic disease. Jim will be remembered always for how he effected quality improvements and enhancements in the fields of healthcare and education throughout South Florida. Mostly, he would want to be remembered for how he loved his family and friends and how they each and all loved him back. Donations to honor Jim's memory may be made to Mt. Sinai Medical Center of Greater Miami, the National Parkinson's Foundation or Temple Judea. Funeral services are scheduled for Tues., Oct 16, 2012 starting at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Judea, Coral Gables, with entombment to follow at Mt. Nebo-Miami.
Published in Miami Herald on October 15, 2012
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