In Memory

Joyce Garver (Keller)

JOYCE GARVER KELLER, age 68, passed away on May 2, 2016 in Columbus, OH. Preceded in death by her fathers, Sanford Landis and John Garver and mother, Zelda Garver.

She is survived by her husband, Steven Keller; son and daughter-inlaw, Stuart Keller and Michelle Dubrow; grandsons, Izadore, Harry and Simon Keller; sister, Holly Beth Garver; brother-in-law, Donald (Gail) Keller and sister-in-law, Barbara (Mark) Waters. Joyce retired in 2015 after 25 years in the position of Executive Director of Ohio Jewish Communities, whose mission is to secure government funds to enhance the Jewish community's ability to serve human needs; encourage sound public policy; educate public officials about the work of the 8 Jewish Federations and their partner agencies; and maintain relationships with state and federal officials. During her time at OJC, Joyce worked on a broad agenda of Jewish issues and is fond of saying: ''Israel is number one, but not the only one on our Jewish Agenda.'' She also worked on issues involving long term care and support for the elderly; healthcare, including Medicaid & Medicare and Holocaust education, the creation of a Holocaust & Liberators Memorial, which was dedicated in 2014 on the Ohio Statehouse lawn. During her tenure with the agency she helped secure tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funds for Jewish agencies in Ohio. In 1990, Joyce was honored by Ohio's Secretary of State, now U.

S. Senator Sherrod Brown, with the 'Keeper of the Flame Award', for outstanding dedication to the democratic process, on the anniversary of passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution (women's vote).

Joyce has been honored by Jewish Family Services of Columbus with their Janice Balias Community Service Award; Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland recognized her as an outstanding volunteer and the Columbus JCC New Americans Program honored her for her work on behalf of Russian Refugee community. Joyce received the ''Good Government Award'' from the Franklin County Consortium on Good Government and she received the Jack and Eleanor Ressler Life with Dignity Award from Wexner Heritage Village. Last year she was honored by the Columbus chapter of Hadassah at their Miriam's Cup Luncheon. She was recently honored by Israel Bonds with the Israel68 award. She served as President of the National Association of Jewish Community Government Affairs Directors and was recognized by her colleagues with an Excellence in Community Service Award. In 2009 Joyce was appointed by Ohio Attorney General Rich Cordray and reappointed by Attorney General Mike DeWine to the Attorney General Charitable Trusts Advisory Committee. She sits on the Ohio FEMA Advisory Board and the Jewish Federations of North America's national Health and Long-Term Care Policy Workgroup, where she served for 2 years as co-chair. Joyce serves as a volunteer on the Jewish Needs Endowment Fund of the Columbus Jewish Foundation and the Board of The Cancer Support Community/ Columbus. She is a member of the Board of the Capitol Square Foundation and her name appears on a permanent plaque in the Statehouse Map Room. Joyce is a Life Member of NCJW, Hadassah and ORT America. Funeral services will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, May 4 at Congregation Agudas Achim, 2767 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH. Graveside services will follow at 2:30 pm at Mount Olive Cemetery, 27855 Aurora Rd, Solon, OH. Shiva will be observed at the home of Steven Keller on Wednesday - Thursday from 6-9pm and Sunday - Tuesday from 6-9pm. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the charity of donor's choice. Online guestbook at www.epsteinmemorial.com