Senator Rudy & Ellen Boschwitz

Rudy Boschwitz was born in Berlin, Germany in 1930. Being an immigrant, Rudy can never be President, which led Bob Dole to remark: “He’s the only Senator I trust. He can’t run for President.” As an after-thought, Bob would add: “and at last count Rudy was the only Senator not running!” Rudy’s Dad came home in Berlin the day Hitler came to power (1/30/33) and told the family they would leave Germany forever. They left in July 1933 and for 2-1/2 years went from country to country seeking a visa to the U.SA., finally arriving December 23, 1935. They settled in New Rochelle, New York.

Rudy attended Johns Hopkins University and New York University, completing college at 19, and receiving a law degree at 22. After a couple of years in the U.S. Army, he soon found legal work too confining, so “I decided to become a client instead.”

He joined his brother in a plywood manufacturing business in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1957 (my New York friends though I had lost my sanity…moving to Oshkosh!!), and came to Minnesota in September 1963, where he started Plywood Minnesota in an old railroad building in Fridley. Fifteen years later (by which time the company had grown to 68 stores), Rudy ran successfully for the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1978-1991, whereupon the voters returned him to his business. “It wasn’t part of the plan, but it was in the midst of a recession, and I was able to be of some help to my sons who were running the business, as this was their first recession."

In the Senate, Rudy was a member of the following committees: Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Budget, Small Business, and Veterans. Rudy was elected by his Republican colleagues to the leadership of the Senate, the only Minnesota Senator other than Hubert Humphrey to attain a leadership position in the 20th century.

That led to Rudy - as part of the Senate and House Republican leadership - to be part of bi-weekly meetings with President Reagan at the White House. "Those meetings really were the high point of my Senate service," said Rudy. "One never left a meeting with Reagan asking 'what did he say?' If he was interested in the subject, you knew what he said. If he wasn't interested, he said nothing. That's when he munched on the ever present jelly beans. One of his great strengths was his focus."

Rudy was President GHW Bush’s Emissary to Ethiopia in the Spring of 1991. His mission resulted in Operation Solomon, the rescue of the Black Jewish community of Ethiopia and their dramatic airlift to Israel. The negotiations also ended the decades-long civil war in Ethiopia. In a Rose Garden ceremony in June, 1991, President Bush awarded Senator Boschwitz the Citizen’s Medal for his achievements in the Horn of Africa. “I have truly lived the American Dream," said Rudy.

In 2005 President George “W” Bush appointed Rudy to be the Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva was lovely. The Commission unfortunately wasn’t. It’s main order of business was condemning Israel. Yet Israel was the only UN member which could not be a member of the Commission. Israel’s defender- most often it only defender- was the U.S. It was a busy, interesting and important place to be. Rudy and his wife of 60 years, Ellen, reside in Plymouth, Minnesota. Their 4 sons, Gerry, Ken, Dan, and Tom all live in the Twin Cities. They have two granddaughters and five grandsons. “Our family is our greatest success.”

Dr. Richard & Diane Smookler

Rick was born in St. Paul and spent the early years of his life and education here. At the age of 13, shortly after his Bar Mitzvah his family relocated to California. After receiving his BS degree from the University of Utah he travelled abroad to Bologna Italy where he earned his medical degree, and married is wife Diane. After living in NYC for about five years the young couple moved to St. Paul where they started a family – three children – and Rick joined a group practice. Rick notes how, as the years progressed, he and Diane became more and more certain that they had made the right choice in coming to the Twin Cities. A significant factor contributing to that realization was the warm, welcoming and committed nature of the local Jewish community which the Smooklers appreciate. A community they have joined and been supportive of for many years.

Rick has been involved with a number of Jewish organizations and agencies both locally and nationally. A partial list includes: numerous boards, Israel Bonds, St. Paul Federation, Lubavitch Cheder and the St. Paul JCC (of which Rick has served as president).

Diane was born in North Minneapolis and moved to St. Louis Park at the age of 8. While studying at the U of M, Diane met her best friend Ricky, discovered that her mother was his G‑d mother, and got married six weeks later. It was truly Bashert. Diane followed her new husband to Bologna, Italy where he was attending medical school, and subsequently to NY where Ricky did his training. Forty three years ago the Smooklers moved to St. Paul where they have been happily living ever since.

Diane has been an active member of the Jewish Community, serving on the boards of Temple of Aaron, Talmud Torah, Jewish Historical Society, Jewish Theatre and the St. Paul Jewish Federation. Diane also served as head of the St. Paul JCC’s Women’s Health Club for eight years, and co-chaired the JCC Fundraiser for two years. In addition, Diane was also the Woman’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair of the St. Paul Federation, and received the Kipnidd-Wilson/Friedland award at the International Lion of Judah Conference in New Orleans.

When Diane is not dedicating herself to the Jewish community she loves, she enjoys playing Mahjong, Canasta and working out. Of course, her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her eight wonderful grandchildren.