Hall of Fame 2017 Inductees

Dr. Philip (Phil) Benzil, combined a successful career in Dentistry with a lifelong commitment to civic activities encompassing civil rights, political activism, and a dedication to improving public education at the local, county and state levels.

Phil’s 35 year dental career began serving in the United Air Force Dental Corps were he quickly rose to the rank of captain. His service was recognized with a Distinguished Unit Citation.

Dr. Benzil entered private practice and later founded a multiple specialty office employing eight dentists and a staff of 30 employees. Throughout his career Phil contributed his dental skills to a variety of organizations including the Maryland Foundation of Dentistry for the handicapped, Carroll County Association for Retarded Citizens, Carroll County Sheltered Workshop Board, of which Phil was founder and president.

Dr. Benzil was a staunch advocate for civil rights, having joined the NAACP and was the first dentist in the county to treat patients of color.

Public education has always been a focus of Phil’s interest and attention. He served 3 terms on the Carroll County Board of Education and was appointed by the Governor to serve for 2 terms on the Maryland State School Board of Education where he also served as it’s President. One of his initiatives resulted in creating safer school conditions for LGBT students and minority students is an everlasting legacy.

He was also a founding member of the Target Community & Educational Services, Inc.. This organization was involved in the housing and training for employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Built homes, called Alternate Living units which fostered independent living in a chaperoned living environment.

Among Dr. Benzil’s proudest accomplishments are his marriage of 62 years, and their 3 wonderful daughters and lastly, he is especially proud to have successfully nurtured their Down’s Syndrome Daughter.

Dr. Benzil says “this is a singular honor and something of which I am greatly honored and proud.”

Norman Chesky is a pioneer in the business of production music, an executive record producer of Grammy Award winning albums, an industry leader in the distribution of the highest quality music downloads, and an active member of distinguished music organizations.

Shortly after graduation from Beach High, Norman moved to New York City to start his career in the music business. Norman founded Manhattan Production Music (MPM) in 1980, which licenses background music for the entertainment industry. Norman’s work and success with MPM provided guidance on how to make records and in 1986, Chesky Records emerged. As executive producer of Chesky Records, Norman secured the release of numerous Grammy-nominated recordings renowned for sound quality. Chesky Records is now recognized as one of the premier audiophile labels in the world. In 2008, Norman co-founded HDtracks, the first successful online store to offer “hi-res” music downloads, which paved a way for competing companies to follow. Norman worked diligently with hundreds of labels to secure HDtracks as one of the leading digital music retailers in the world – providing consumers superior downloads of legendary recordings.

Over 20 years ago, Norman and other pioneering business owners of music libraries created the Production Music Association (PMA), a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of the production music community, protecting the interests of thousands of music creators across the country. Norman also served years as governor and trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which helps produce the televised Grammy Awards. Moreover, he’s contributed to music-oriented and educational non-profits such as Grammy in the Schools, We Are Family, and MusiCares. Also, Norman sat in on numerous discussion panels and provided lectures for the industrious new generation of music pioneers.

Norman Chesky is the passionate businessman behind the music who has successfully built three separate companies. Further, he is an enthusiastic advocate for the music industry and community causes – and a dedicated family member and friend. Norman Chesky is honored to be inducted into the MBSHS Hall of Fame.

Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Feldman has long been considered the “Educators Educator” as he has devoted his life to students, parents and school empowerment in school districts throughout the nation.

After graduation from Beach High where he served on the student council and the cross-country team, Larry received both his B.A. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Florida and his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership/Systemic Reform from the Union Institute and University of Cincinnati.

During his 44 years of service to M-DCPS, he honorably served the education community as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and region director working with the multi-culturally and economically diverse communities throughout Miami, as well as a three term elected School Board Member where he presides as the current Chair.

Larry’s expertise and experiences in the areas of public education, innovative educational models, budget and facilities management and organizational and systemic reform guided his work over the years.

Included among his many awards and recognitions are South Florida After School All Stars award, Administrator of the Year, K-8 Council for Exceptional Children, Superintendent’s Award for Merit and Mexican American Council Champion of the Farmworkers, and Boss of the Year by the American Business Women’s Association.

The words of David Lawrence, as the Chair of the Children’s Movement of Florida, best describes our Hall of Fame inductee; “The record of achievement is clear-educator of excellence, superb administrator and school principal, great public servant on the Miami-Dade School Board (including as chair). Those are all special, but what I would emphasize is character… A life of energetic purposefulness, honest as the day is long, loves people (especially helping them), and just plain decency and common sense.”

Larry often says, “Each one of us has a destiny and an opportunity to fulfill it”. He is honored to be inducted into the Miami Beach Hall of Fame.

While attending Ida M. Fisher and Beach High during the 1940’s at the height of World War II, Raymond believed life at Beach High laid the groundwork for the activities engaged during his lifetime.

After graduating MBHS, Raymond went on to earn his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida; University of Miami Law School; Georgetown Law Center and the Army War College. During law school, he was commissioned as an Army Lieutenant. After graduation, he served Active Duty in the Korean War.

Following his discharge, he became active in a variety of roles in the Army Reserves, culminating in his promotion to Brigadier General and Commanding General of a Civil Affairs Command. He became the President and Executive Director of the Senior Army Reserve Commanders Association (SARCA), an organization of Army Reserve Generals. He also became an advocate for the role of Civil Affairs in Army Doctrine.. He has received numerous decorations for his service including being Inducted into the SARCA Hall of Fame, and he was awarded the Legion of Merit, a military award for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

Following his 1954 Army release he settled in Washington. D.C. beginning law practice and active involvement in Democratic political activities. In 1955 he was elected President of Washington Young Democrats the starting point of a career in public service. This included many key roles such as serving on the John F. Kennedy Presidential Inaugural Committee; Advance man for Democratic Presidents and Vice Presidents and candidates for those offices; serving in key positions at Democratic Presidential Inaugural Committees as well as Democratic National Conventions. General Jacobson served as Legislative Assistant to members of Congress and Congressional Liaison for Federal agencies.

While performing military and political activities, he maintained private law practice including Court appointed attorney representing indigent criminal defendants and Attorney at the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was engaged in community activities including alumni associations and religious organizations. Organizer and President of the John F. Kennedy Lodge of B'nai B'rith, whose members included many prominent Jewish members of Congress and Government.

He is especially proud of his wife of 62 years. Eileen, their son Louis and his two grandchildren. We are delighted to induct Raymond M. Jacobson into the MBSHS Hall of Fame.

Born and raised on Miami Beach, Barry Richard attended Biscayne Elementary and Nautilus Jr. High. While attending Miami Beach High, he was a masterful debater becoming State High School Champions and President of Key Club.

After law school, Barry served two and one-half years active duty as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Navy. He went into private practice in Miami followed by service as Assistant Attorney General and later Deputy Attorney General for the State of Florida, the second in command of the state’s Department of Legal Affairs. Along the way, he also served two terms in the Florida legislature. He is currently a principle shareholder with the international law firm Greenberg Traurig.

Barry is a “Lawyers, Lawyer.” This is evidenced by his being designated “Lawyer of the Year’ and as one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal.

Barry has been to the Super Bowl of the law four times, winning each time in the U.S. Supreme Court. He has represented a successful U.S. presidential candidate and a sitting U.S. president. He has represented Fortune 100 companies and won multi-billion dollar cases. He has represented governors, Supreme Court justices, members of congress, legislators, the U.S. Navy, major universities, an Arab sheik and an American Indian Tribe that proudly proclaims it has never been conquered.

The two most important things in Barry’s life are his family and his profession and they have brought him overwhelming joy and satisfaction. As to the former, Barry has said, “I have managed to marry an extraordinary woman and raise five kids who are also extraordinary.” “People pay me to do what I love and I wake up every morning expecting the unexpected.”

Congratulations Barry Richards on being inducted into the Beach High Hall of Fame.

Heather was born and raised in Miami Beach and attended North Beach Elementary and Ida M. Fisher Jr. High. In addition to being an outstanding scholar and an accomplished musician at Miami Beach Senior High School, Heather became an invaluable member of Jay Jensen’s Community Theater and Thespian Troupe 391, both as one of the Musical Directors for Children’s Theater and also working with numerous productions. It was clear early on and obvious to her friends that Heather had an eye for producing, and an intellect to be reckoned with. So it was not a surprise that she excelled in her undergraduate work at Sarah Lawrence and that she had the discipline and drive to hone her talents and success in any endeavor upon which she focused.

Heather’s accomplishments speak for themselves. The choice of films Heather has produced speaks to her wide ranging intellectual curiosity and desire to entertain, elevate and educate the public. Her films employ critical thinking and inspire empathy. Her body of work not only contributes to raising awareness for each cause she’s championed, her films and outspoken advocacy have made her an essential voice in American arts education- a tremendous legacy whose seeds were planted right here at Beach High.

Heather’s projects include executive producing Morgan Spurlock's Academy Award nominated and Sundance-winning documentary, Super Size Me, and Anthony Haney-Jardine's Sundance-winning dramatic feature, Anywhere, U.S.A. Also in her resumé, AJ Schnack's documentary, Convention, and Class Act, featuring Beach High’s own legend, Jay W. Jensen and many Beach High alums, an essential factor in increasing awareness of the need for arts funding in American public schools. Jim Killeen's, Google Me, and her directorial debut, TWO: The Story of Roman & Nyro about legendary songwriter and music producer and Beach High alum and Hall of Fame inductee, Desmond Child's journey to parenthood. Current works include the upcoming sci-fi TV series, ATOM, a soon to be announced TV show, the upcoming documentary, The Rest I Make Up about Cuban-American legendary playwright, Maria Irene Fornes, and two upcoming books.

And somewhere during all that, Heather has found time for two sons, Jarrett, 19, and Noah, 12. If these accomplishments aren’t enough, Heather serves as a film professor at Sarah Lawrence College, film consultant, producers’ rep, film lecturer and is founder of White Dock and Studio on Hudson production companies.

Barbara believes she was born with the heart of an artist, the soul of a humanitarian with a sprinkle of magic.

A native of Miami Beach, Barbara attended North Beach Elementary and Nautilus Jr High.

In the 1940's and 50's people said that Miami was a cultural wasteland. It was. School was the place to learn about the arts. Beach High was Barbara’s cultural center. It was at Beach where Barbara became an artist and met her future husband, Stephen. After graduating from the University of Miami with a B.ED. in art education, Barbara returned to Beach High to teach. Miami was changing and so was she. Dade County was becoming a rich multi-ethnic community with new languages, traditions, and citizens. She is a mother of two and went on to teach the arts to children with special needs. The magic continued as she decided to create a special place where families could come together to learn, create and have fun together.

The vision of the Miami Youth Museum, now the Miami Children's Museum took more than magic. With the help of her family, and her co founder Denise Glasser, community leaders and hundreds of volunteers, the first institution of it's kind in the state of Florida became a reality. Children's museums unite the different cultural, religious and racial citizens of a community, representing the entire fabric of the community. Persons of all ages with every conceivable handicapping condition, The museum is a theater for learning. The most significant contribution of Children's Museum's may be that they provide families with a substantially different kind of leisure time activity.

Moving from CEO of the museum to CEO of a fledgling drug prevention program came naturally as Barbara had garnered the political, economic, and social education needed to run a not for profit organization. Upon Barbara’s retirement the DFYIT (Drug Free Youth in Town), had received national recognition and is in 80 schools in Dade and Broward Counties including Beach High. Both the Miami Children's Museum and the Drug Free Youth In Town programs gives children life lessons and knowledge that crosses the bridge into adulthood, in turn developing their individual potential to the fullest.

Barbara is extremely proud of her husband Steve their two children Amy and Lee, and granddaughters’ Jordyn, Kyra and Kaia.

Barbara says, “I hope that I have left a legacy that has enriched the lives of community and tourists alike.”