A capacity crowd of more than 200 friends, family, co-workers, community members and unabashed admirers packed the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center on Dec. 15 to celebrate the career and legacy of Jeffrey Feld, retiring president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.

A decade ago, Feld assumed leadership of what was then known as the Jewish Federation of Collier County, working out of rented office space in a strip mall above a fast-food sandwich shop.

Almost two years ago, after a $13 million fundraising campaign, the two-story, 20,000-square-foot, Iser Center opened, immediately emerging as a hub of Jewish communal life for generations to come.

Before his arrival in Naples, Feld had already spent 40 years leading Jewish organizations across the country, including in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn.; Savannah, Ga.; New Jersey, and his hometown of Pittsburgh, where his career began as a teen synagogue volunteer and high school summer camp counselor. He later graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in political philosophy, followed by a master's degree in social work from the University of Maryland.

"Because of your work, the Jewish community has been sustained, supported, thrived and grown everywhere you have been," said his son Jesse Feld, who followed his father's example and also works in Jewish community leadership. "And for that, I know hundreds and thousands of people you've impacted are appreciative."

Growing up, Jesse Feld said, his father would constantly ask him and his sister, "Do you know how lucky you are?" That rhetorical question "helped put into perspective how fortunate we were, to keep us humble and appreciative of what we had."

More recently, he realized that "the luck my Dad was referring to was not in fact luck, but it was years of hard work."

In Naples, that work ethic has led to a 10-year partnership with the Collier County Sheriff's Office and an annual Shop with the Sheriff event. Each December, school resource officers recommend nearly 100 children who could benefit from a holiday shopping trip to Walmart, funded by a donor from the Federation.

Feld spearheaded training in Naples by the Secure Community Network, a safety and security organization of the Jewish Federation of North America, as well as a partnership with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. And he's worked tirelessly to promote better communication, tolerance and inclusiveness within both the community at large and the Jewish community.

A dedicated fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Feld received several gifts tied to his NFL fandom. The first came from his son Jesse, a replica jersey with the uniform number 50 – a nod to the length of Feld's career – and the name "Zayde," a Yiddish word for grandfather.

He later received a replica of the Steelers' yellow-and-black Terrible Towel, with the inscription, "Cheers to a not-so-terrible career."

Speaking at a podium flanked by both the Israeli flag and the black-and-gold decorative balloons adorned with the Steelers' logo, Feld said he was humbled and "overwhelmed" by the turnout. He thanked his wife Susan as the "true star," dabbing his eyes with the personalized yellow towel as she was presented with a bouquet of red roses in appreciation.

Several speakers poked fun at Feld's habit of consistently seeking additional details before deciding on issues of impact. This time, it was Feld's turn to be posed the question.

"The question always seems to come up, 'What's next for Jeffrey,'" said Dr. Nat Ritter, chair of the organization's governing board. "I guess we need more information."

Feld plans to remain in Naples after his retirement, which becomes official on Jan. 31, 2025 (his successor, Nammie Ichilov, started earlier this month). In Feld's honor, the Federation has started an endowment in his name to provide staff enrichment, enhancement and educational opportunities.

About Jewish Federation of Greater Naples

The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is the thread that runs through the fabric of the Jewish Community, its organizations and services, connecting the Jewish community. The Federation supports programs for Jewish people and the entire community in need in the greater Naples area, Israel and throughout the world, providing food for the hungry and counseling for the troubled, spearheading rescue and relief efforts for isolated Jews in distressed regions, and funding innovative Jewish educational and unity initiatives. The Federation creates a sense of community for thousands of Jewish residents in Greater Naples and its surrounding areas by creating and supporting programs to further Jewish learning, identity, pride and culture. Federation meets the challenge of providing for the needs of our Jewish brethren, wherever they may be, from young children and families to seniors. For information, visit jewishnaples.org, call 239-263-4205 or email info@jewishnaples.org.