Shoifet honored for volunteerism

MILLERTON — A tribute to 88-year-old Jake Shoifet by the North East Historical Society and the Millerton Lions Club Aug. 18 became a mini-history lesson of the Tri-state region.

Shoifet was born in Sharon and has lived in the area all his life. The tribute, held at the American Legion Post in Millerton, was attended by about 100 people. The spur for the event: Rumors that Shoifet might be moving to Texas, to be closer to his children.

Shoifet is a decorated World War II veteran, Lions Club Citizen of the Year, children and nutrition advocate, business owner and organizer of several youth area baseball programs. In 1987, he was the first Democrat to be elected mayor of the village in 112 years, serving three nonconsecutive terms.

The program at the Legion Hall highlighted some of his many accomplishments. His wife, Shirley, sat by his side, often interjecting  humorous anecdotes from their 50-plus years of marriage.

Shoifet was born in 1920 in Sharon, and lived in the Ellsworth section of town until he was 8. In those days there was no electricity or running water. In 1928 his family moved to a new home, down the road from Sharon Hospital.

Many people in the audience remembered the Gateway Drive-in Restaurant, which Shoifet opened in 1953 (now the Round Tuit Restaurant), on Route 22 in Millerton.

When the Shoifets first moved to Millerton, Shirley said, she attended a local function where a town politician who’d heard of Jake’s interest in politics warned that there were two strikes against her husband: he was Jewish, and he was a Democrat.

When Shoifet heard that, it made him even more determined to run for office.

In addition to town politics, Shoifet perhaps takes greatest pride in and enjoyment from his work as an advocate for children and their parents. He was a member of the New York State School Food Service Association Executive Board from 1971 to 1982, and legislative chairman of the board from 1971 to 1980.

“I didn’t like what was going on,� Shoifet said. “They were not feeding the kids properly. They were just interested in making money.�

He eventually testified before Sen. George McGovern’s Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs at a hearing on Food Quality in Federal Food Programs in 1977, leading to legislation that increased the nutritional standards in school lunches.

Another great source of pride: “In 1988 I lowered taxes, and it took 10 years for them to get them back up to where they were in 1987,� he recalled proudly.

Robert Sadlon,  an owner of The Millerton Moviehouse, honored Shoifet as a “valuable historian and storyteller.â€�

“Just look at all the people who have come to honor you,� North East Historical Society President Ralph Fedele said. “Here is a man who has spent his whole life giving to others. I think that’s just a wonderful thing.�

Lions Club President Todd Clinton commended Shoifet for his “countless years of service and compassion. Our town has been blessed by your presence in so many ways.�

Or, as his wife put it in a poem she read aloud, “You are aware of all the world’s problems and try to make them right.�

Shoifet isn’t likely to be forgotten in the village of Millerton, even if he and his wife decide to move to Houston to be closer to family.

There are many Shoifet stories and accomplishments. But when she was asked which of her husband’s accomplishments was most important, Shirley said, “I think it’s Jake’s teachings. I hope they are what has touched our children, and encouraged them to be such decent human beings.�