TRUMBULL – Deborah Velthuizen of Trumbull has been named recipient of Congregation B’nai Torah’s Muriel J. Frankel Award. Velthuizen will receive her award at the Trumbull synagogue at Friday evening services, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
“Debbie is one of the hardest working, most dedicated individuals I know and we are so happy to be able to recognize her with this richly deserved award,” said the Congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Colin Brodie, in announcing the award.
Velthuizen’s involvement at B’nai Torah began shortly after her move to Trumbull from New Jersey. She helped to reinvigorate the synagogue’s Sisterhood, and now serves as its president, and she re-established the shul’s catering service. Active in many of the synagogue’s fundraising activities, together with her husband, Dr. Robert Velthuizen, she introduced the Mazalgram program. She has also served as a tag sale chairperson and volunteer and as a bingo caller.
A native of Lakeland, Florida, Velthuizen received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Florida. For the past seven years of her 30 year career as an ICU nurse, she has worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport. She and her husband are the parents of two children, Anneke, a senior at the University of Connecticut and Vincent, a Trumbull High School senior.
The Frankel Award is presented to a member of the congregation in memory of the late Muriel Frankel. For more information, call (203) 268-6940 or visit www.bnaitorahct.org.