Temple Beth Abraham is pleased to award this year’s Keter Shem Tov (the crown of a good name) to Ida Stanger Mildenberg. When Ida married her beloved Les in June, 2007, she quickly became a valued, integral part of our Jewish community.
After attending her first Sisterhood meeting, this expert chef, who loves to cook, began preparing the food for Saturday morning Kiddushim, catering Sisterhood dinners, cooking for Bar and Bat Mitzvot, and several Hadassah events. This former private chef never refused a request when help was needed for culinary assistance. She did the shopping for the food for Sisterhood, she was a member of the Sisterhood Board for many years, and she managed the Synagogue kitchen for several years. Working with Ida in the kitchen provided us with cooking advice, tricks of the trade, and ways to make us all better cooks! Ida also volunteered at the Nashua Soup Kitchen and the Ann Marie House. She also catered many private and business events for Temple Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley, volunteering for their Hebrew School events and retreats before coming to Nashua.
While Ida was giving so much of her time to the Synagogue, she was also working at a full-time job for Sysco Foods for 24 years as a National Account Rep, handling big accounts such as Jet Blue, Brandeis, Bentley College, and several Boston and Worcester hospitals. She handled over 100 million dollars’ worth of business until she retired in 2019. She currently is teaching for AHRC out of NY on Zoom, teaching students who are challenged. In her own words, she is grateful in many ways, and in her way wanted to give back in gratitude.
Now that she is no longer working, Ida is looking forward to spending more time with her family, Her daughter Melissa has two boys, Mason and Landon; and her son Brian lives close by. She is a devoted daughter to her dad who is 95 years young, and to her mother-in-law who is 96. She is also a stepmother to Les’s four grown children, and two more grandsons, Katz and Keller and a sister to Mandy. Nothing gives her more pleasure than having the whole family at her home, especially during the holidays, providing wonderful meals for everyone! As she says, she loves bringing smiles and love to the kitchen!
We’re so proud to honor this very special woman who has given so much to our community. Ida, may you go from strength to strength. Todah Raba! Yasher Koach!