Deceased Information

• DECEASED

  Jack Shenk

  Yaakov ben Yoseph v'Rachel

• AGE

  96

• DATE OF DEATH

  Friday, February 03, 2023 (Before Sunset)

• DATE OF FUNERAL

  Sunday, February 05, 2023

• TIME OF FUNERAL

  2:30 PM

• PLACE OF FUNERAL

  Crest Lawn Memorial Park

• FUNERAL STREAM

  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84764525361?pwd=bGE5OHRWRmlQa3NsZlF4WkFkTGxzZz09

  Meeting ID: 847 6452 5361

  Passcode: 830950

• PLACE OF BURIAL

  Crest Lawn Memorial Park

• SHIVA INFORMATION

  Shiva Location:

  Shiva will be at the home of Paul & Ilana Shenk, 1591 Adelia Place.

  Shiva Minyanim Times:

  Sun Feb. 5: 6:00pm Mincha/Ma'ariv

  Mon & Thurs. Feb. 6 & 9: Shacharis 6:50am | Mincha/Ma'ariv 6:00pm)

  Tues & Wed, Feb. 7 & 8: Shacharis 7:00am | Mincha/Ma'ariv 6:00pm

  Fri Feb 10: Shacharis 7:00am

  Shiva Hours:

  Sun Feb. 5: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

  Mon - Thurs, Feb. 6 - 9: 10:00am - noon | 2:00pm - 4:00pm |

  6:00pm - 9:00pm

  Fri Feb. 10: 10:00am - noon

  1591 Adelia Pl NEAtlanta, GA 30329
  
  

• DONATIONS

  • ❖ Congregation Beth Jacob

    1855 Lavista Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329

• OBITUARY

  The family of Jack Shenk mourns the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a guiding light, role model, mentor, and inspiration to us all.  Jack was a self-made man, taking paths that would lead to successful careers as a business owner and real estate professional.  But central to his life were his family and his passions for music and volunteerism. After living a full and fulfilling life, Jack died at the age of 96 on February 3, 2023. Jack was born in Brooklyn NY, the second oldest of five children of Joseph and Rose Shenkoff.  His father was a concert violinist and orchestra conductor in New York City, and he operated the New Street Haberdashery shop in lower Manhattan near Wall Street. Jack started to play the drums as a teenager. He joined bands and orchestras that performed at family events, clubs and hotels in New York’s Catskill Mountains.  He met and fell in love with Marcelle (Marcy) Broder while playing with the band at her uncle’s hotel, The Normandie in Loch Sheldrake. In the fall of 1950, Jack was inducted into the Army.  After training in Georgia at Fort Benning, he was deployed to Germany. The opportunity to play music came when he was selected to join the 7th Army Symphony, which performed throughout Germany.  Jack played the drums, was the Principal in the percussion section, and served as orchestra librarian.  After completing his Army service, Jack married Marcy in New York in January 1953.  They moved to Atlanta and soon met other young couples who became lifelong friends for generations to come. In early 1954, Jack and Marcy moved back to New York to help his father in the haberdashery store; while there, they had their first child, Mindy.  They returned to Atlanta four months later, to stay for good.  He purchased a business, Professional Rug Cleaning.  The family grew to three children with the addition of Paul and Connie. Jack started to dabble in residential real estate and earned his license, sold the rug cleaning business, and became a full-time real estate agent with Fields Realty.  He soon developed an interest in commercial real estate and became part at Atlantis Realty, a company owned by his dear friends.  Marcy was a teacher at the Hebrew Academy (now known as the Atlanta Jewish Academy), but eventually earned her real estate license as well. After Jack earned his real estate broker’s license, he and Marcy opened their own commercial real estate company, Nova Realty.  He also created investor groups to own commercial properties, and he managed these properties as well.  His goal was to bring his investors a good return on their investments, and he did just that. Jack was an active person, swimming, playing racquetball and golf, and working out regularly at the fitness center until he was in his early 90’s.  He tried to stick to a healthy diet, and always had an array of nuts to eat around the house. Jack and Marcy were longtime synagogue members of Beth Jacob Atlanta.  On most Shabbat mornings and on holidays, you could find Jack sitting next to his son Paul, praying, listening and learning.  He and Marcy loved to travel and took many wonderful trips abroad.  In December 2002, they participated in a humanitarian mission to Cuba, bringing much needed medical supplies to doctors and visiting the Jewish communities. This was an eye-opening experience that they never forgot. For over 20 years, Jack and Marcy combined community service with music by leading a music program at the William Breman Jewish Home.  They would bring music tapes, a karaoke machine, and tambourines, maracas, and American flags to distribute so residents and staff could participate in making music, singing and dancing. They would take the wheelchair-bound residents out on the dance floor for the Wheelchair Waltz.  Volunteer guest performers came to add to the fun. The Shenks took their music programs to other senior centers as well, such as the Jewish Tower, the Weinstein Center for Adult Day Services, The Ahavath Achim Adult Morning Program, and the Marcus Jewish Community Center.  Because Jack strongly believed in the ability of music to sharpen the intellect and awaken the spirit, he provided a music fund for each of his eight grandchildren.  He wanted to encourage each grandchild to rent or buy an instrument of their choice and take lessons. Marcy, sadly, passed away in 2008; they had been married over 55 years.  Jack decided to continue his music program at the Breman Jewish Home, naming it the Marcy Shenk Music Program. Jack loved playing in the percussion section of the Callanwolde Concert Band, which he joined in 1992.  He rarely missed a practice or performance. He served as the Director of Development, seeking sponsorships and ads for the concert programs; these funds helped pay for sheet music and truck rental to move the instruments and equipment to each concert.  For his over 25 years of participation and dedication, Jack was awarded the inaugural Director’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Callanwolde Concert Band by Conductor Glenn Moore. He also became a student again, taking classes at Senior University at Mercer. He enjoyed this experience so much that he became a volunteer on the curriculum committee. Jack coordinated a popular speaker series called “Speaker’s Choice,” scheduling interesting guest speakers from political, medical, and financial fields, as well as representatives from the various international consulates in Atlanta. In recognition of all his longstanding involvements and volunteer service in the community, in September 2011, Jack was awarded the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service for the State of Georgia. In his later years, Jack stayed busy with his dear friend Manuela, a violinist, with whom he would enjoy eating dinners out, watching livestreamed music and dance performances at the Regal Theater, attending programs at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, and getting together with family. The older Jack got, the more he reflected on his life.  He composed three important documents that his family treasures.  Over a period of years, he wrote “My Memoir,” a history and reminisces of his life.  He wrote “My Birthday Party Speech,” which he delivered to family and friends at his special 90th birthday celebration.  On the occasion of his 92nd birthday he described his values and goals, life accomplishments, and legacy in his essay, “Finding Meaning and Happiness in Old Age.”  He loved to think of himself as a “Recycled Teenager.” In October 2019, Jack made the decision to move into Holbrook Decatur, a continuing care senior community that opened close to his family and synagogue.  He moved into an independent living apartment and made so many friends. Everyone knew him as the chief BINGO caller.  He worked out at the fitness center several times a week, went on field trips, played trivia, and enjoyed the musical entertainment on the weekends.  As his caregiving needs progressed, he moved to an assisted living apartment, and eventually to a memory care apartment. Jack celebrated his 94th through 96th birthdays at Holbrook Decatur and had a very happy life there. Our family is grateful to the Holbrook Decatur leadership, caregivers, med-techs, staff in every department, and the wonderful concierge team for making Jack’s last years as happy as possible, and for assisting our family, always in a caring manner.  The memory care team was wonderful to Jack and very supportive of our family during these last few months. Our family is grateful to Eckstein Homecare who provided one-on-one caregivers for Jack in his memory care apartment.  Eckstein Homecare was responsive to our ever-changing caregiving needs, and their experienced and attentive caregivers were a tremendous help to our family.  We are grateful for the Capstone Hospice team of nurses, caregivers, chaplain, and social worker, and their central office staff, who became involved in Jack’s care in mid-December. Jack provided much love, wisdom and guidance, and many wonderful memories to his devoted children: Mindy and Jack Hyman, Paul and Ilana Shenk, and Connie and Ian Pollack.  He had a loving and fun relationship with each of his eight grandchildren: Daniel and Lauren Hyman, Joseph Hyman, Kochava and Gabriel Joel, Tzina and Moshe Fishman, Rafi and Aviva Shenk, Avital and Binyamin Goetz, Ben and Alison Pollack, and Andy and Rebecca Pollack.  He leaves a great legacy in his twenty-four great-grandchildren.  Jack is survived by his dear sister Lorraine Hirsch, his Atlanta relatives, Fred and Glenda Broder, Jeanette Dankberg, Shaindle Schmuckler and their families, and a host of nieces and nephews around the country who loved him very much. Jack was a man of integrity, self-determination, a quiet confidence, a passion for music, a generous heart, a deep faith in God, and a huge capacity for love for his wife, family, friends, and community.  He will be missed, but the light and love he spread around will continue to live on in all of us. Graveside services were held on February 5, 2023, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Ilan Feldman officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beth Jacob Atlanta, 1855 Lavista Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 (https://www.bethjacobatlanta.org) or to the charitable organization of your choice.