TERRIE RABINOWITZ
From Romania with Love
“From Russia with Love” was a James
Bond film filled with danger and romance. As
a young girl growing up in German-occupied
Romania, little Terrie, or Otilia as she was
called, feared the Nazi officers who terrorized
the Jewish residents of her town. Before the
war, her family lived in virtual luxury. Terrie
and her older sister, Paula, had English and
French tutors as well as music lessons. All
that disappeared when the swastika-clad
officers took over. Her family lost their material
BY FRED CHERNOW
Photos courtesy of Terrie Rabinowitz
WHAT WAS IT LIKE ARRIVING
IN NEW YORK IN 1948?
Of course, my whole family cried when we
saw the Statue of Liberty in the harbor. Our
first apartment was in Coney Island, where I
achieved my America dream: drinking a Pepsi
Cola and munching on potato chips. Soon my
father owned a grocery store and we moved to
Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
My sister Paula and I enrolled in Erasmus Hall
High School and discovered something even
more enticing than Pepsi Cola… boys!
HOW OLD WERE YOU AT THE TIME?
I was not yet 16-years-old when I met a tall,
handsome guy at a “Sweet Sixteen” party. Arnie
and his friend, Phil, were invited at the last
minute. How prophetic that was. Ever the
romantic, Arnie asked me if he could see me
the following Saturday night, and I murmured,
“Yes.” He followed with, “Good, and every
Saturday night after that.” We married two
years later. My sister married Phil, the young
man who persuaded Arnie to attend. It was
“Kismet!” Oh yes, he kissed me the night we
met, and every night thereafter. Paula and Phil
Plafker moved to North Shore Towers before
us and Phil served on the Board of Directors.
They are now in Florida full time.
WHAT DID ARNIE DO?
Arnie came from a hard-working family of
cooks and chefs. They were an important part
of Ben’s Deli’s success as well as the iconic
Ratner’s Dairy Restaurant. Arnie perfected his
negotiating skills when he was on the Board of
the Kosher Butcher’s Association. For many
years, he ran his own shops in Baldwin and
Oceanside. Now semi-retired, he’s part of the
sales team at Century 21. Much of his time
is spent as President of the NST Men’s Club.
Under his leadership, the membership has
grown in numbers and breadth of interests.
We have three children, and Arnie was coach
and president of the boys basketball league
when we lived in North Bellmore. He was also
the bowling champ in that community.
WHAT WAS EARLY MARRIED LIFE LIKE?
On his 21st birthday, I gave Arnie a birthday
gift, a son. Early on I became a mother to
three children: Jack, our oldest, and our fraternal
twins, Andy and Jill. Their given names
caused some confusion as people assumed
Jack and Jill must be the twins. In my spare
time, I enjoyed socializing with other young
mothers and played canasta and Mahjong
while the children slept. This did not satisfy
my need to do something meaningful. At age
28, I became an active volunteer for the City
of Hope, a four-star–rated charity which funds
research in the prevention, treatment and cure
of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
My fund-raising success caught the attention
of the national center in California and I was
invited there to describe some of the activities
I instituted in New York.
WHAT WAS YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH
ADELPHI UNIVERSITY?
When the children got a little older, I looked
for a job which paid a salary and offered fulfillment.
I got both when Adelphi offered me
a position as receptionist in their School of
Social Work. I expanded my role to give all
kinds of information to prospective students
who came in. Soon my title was changed to
Director of Information and Referral. I was
hooked. I loved the university atmosphere
and the supportive faculty members and
staff. The school announced there would be
a grant to enable seven academic scholarships,
which would pay complete tuition for
selected employees. I applied and was granted
a full scholarship which ultimately paid for
my undergraduate and Master’s degree, plus
post-graduate work in their School of Social
Work. This was a life-changing experience. The
little Romanian refugee with no college credits,
after much time devoted to course work and
study, was now a certified social worker. Wow!
Slowly I built a practice based on referrals from
satisfied clients. I’m disappointed when I see
lawyers and doctors who now advertise their
services on TV and in print media. I never had
to do that. Soon I had my own call-in radio
show called, “Talk to Terrie.”
WHERE DO YOU PRACTICE?
I have an office in nearby Merrick and in
Queens. On Tuesdays, I go to my Manhattan
office, which is near Lincoln Center. Many of
my clients live in the city. I see individuals and
couples as well as family counseling.
WHERE DO YOU SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?
With Jack and his family in Los Angeles and
Jill and her gang in Florida, much of my income
is paid directly to JetBlue and Marriott hotels.
We love visiting them and I have a granddaughter,
Meredith, living in Aruba. Fortunately,
Andy and his family are in nearby Plainview
and I see them often. In total, we are blessed
with 7 grown grandchildren and a two-year-old
great granddaughter, Veralina.
I truly enjoy the amenities right here at NST.
Many mornings before going to my office I can
be found at the Fitness Center or in the pool.
Arnie and I love it here, and sometimes think it
would be nice to become snowbirds and spend
the winters at a place in Florida. We’ll see.
possessions but their love for each other
grew. Eventually, with help from relatives
they escaped to Israel and then to the United
States. Terrie and Arnie Rabinowitz
Terrie on the air
4 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ July 2018