Hall of Fame 2004 Inductees

Dr. Jeffrey Chesky graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1963. He received his undergraduate degree in 1967 in Zoology/Biological Sciences from Cornell, and his Ph.D. in 1974 in Physiology & Biophysics from the University of Miami. He is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, which gave him its Distinguished Service Recognition. This award is named for Dr. Mildred Seltzer, whose husband Jerry Seltzer graduated from MBHS in the 1940s.

In 1995-96, Dr. Chesky served as the national President of Sigma Phi Omega, the academic honorary society in gerontology. He has authored or co-authored about 75 articles, book chapters, and abstracts related to the biology of aging (many are related to his research on age, changes in muscle and the effects of rigorous physical exercise on modifying aging changes) and gerontology/geriatrics education. Recently, he has been involved in a federally sponsored geriatric education training program in which he coordinates and/or teaches workshops on various topics in geriatrics. Many of these are given to the staff of nursing homes in rural Illinois.

He is currently Professor Emeritus of Human Services, Gerontology, and Biology at the University of Illinois at Springfield, and an adjunct professor of pharmacology at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Charles E. "Chuck" Fieldson received his Bachelors degree in 1950 and an M.A. in 1954, both from Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia. He joined Miami Beach Senior High School's faculty in 1954 and taught social studies, history, and world history honors classes. He also served as Head of the Social Studies Department.

Chuck Fieldson has coached football and basketball, and was the Head Varsity Basketball Coach from 1957-1984, and Athletic Director from 1968-1987. In 1990, the school's Gymnasium was dedicated in his name, and the annual Student Athlete award is given as the Chuck Fieldson Athletic Award.

During his Coaching career, he led championship teams and received numerous honors, both athletic and educational. He has been the President of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA), and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1981. He received the United Teachers of Dade Distinguished Service Award in 1985, and has served on numerous boards, including the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. He has received Keys to the City of Miami Beach from Mayors of the city, a yearbook dedication in 1984, and was honored for Outstanding Service and Dedication to the youth of our community by the Miami Beach Police Athletic League.

Charles Fieldson, 90, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015 with his family by his side.

Michell Kaplan graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1972. He received a B.A. in English from the University of Colorado, and an M.Ed. at the University of Miami.

After teaching English at Southridge High School in Miami, he opened Books & Books in Coral Gables in 1982, and then a second store on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach in 1989. Books & Books has become South Florida's leading independent bookstore and the hub of the area's thriving literary community. He has become one of the country's most prominent and influential independent book store owners.

A co-founder of the Miami Book Fair International, the country's largest event of its kind, he now serves as the Chairperson of its Board of Directors. He also serves on the steering committee of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts. Mitchell Kaplan is the President of the Board of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), and also serves on the Board of ABFFE, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression.

Rhoda (Berman) Levitt graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1953. She attended the University of Miami twice, first receiving a Bachelors of Education, and then later one in Fine Arts.

As an arts advocate and philanthropist, Rhoda Levitt has been involved in arts and cultural organizations of every kind throughout South Florida for decades. Her numerous activities included serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors at the University of Miami College of Arts & Sciences; President of the Florida International University Arts Council, Chairperson of the Florida Arts Council, Chairperson of the Miami City Ballet Board of Trustees; on the Executive Board of the Performing Arts Center of Greater Miami; on the Board of Trustees for WLRN, National Public Radio/Television; and on the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Rhoda Levitt has been honored with the Outstanding Woman Award by the Miami Ballet Society, the Maxie Award by the New World School of the Arts, the Ambassador of the Arts Award, the Arts Hero Award, the South Florida Critics' Circle Kleinberg Arts Award, and awards from the American Cancer Society, City Theater, Miami Light Project, American Red Cross, and Temple Zion, among many others.

From theater to music, from dance to art, Rhoda Levitt has enriched the cultural landscape in ways beyond measure.

Jimmy L. Morales graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1980. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Harvard in 1984, and earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1987. After working as a corporate attorney in New York and Washington, D.C., he returned to Miami to practice corporate and international law, and is now with Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadef & Sitterson, P.A.

Jimmy Morales has served as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner since 1996, representing District 7. He is currently one of the two remaining candidates in the runoff election for Miami Dade County mayor. He also serves on the Downtown Development Authority, Miami-Dade League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, and the National PTA Hispanic Advisory Board. He also served as chairperson of the Dade Community Foundation.

As a County Commissioner, Jimmy Morales has sponsored or co-sponsored numerous vital programs, including The Deep Subsidy Mortgage Program assisting low-income homebuyers, The Apprenticeship Program, The Miami-Dade Sports Commission, The Ethics Commission, and The Human Rights Ordinance. He has received numerous awards, including Public Official of the Year (2000) from the National Association of Hispanic Administrators, the Bill Colson Leadership Award (2000) from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Elder Advocate Award (2003) from the Alliance for Aging, a Founders Award (2002) from the Women's Emergency Network, and a Public Policy Leadership Award (2000) from United Way of Miami-Dade County.

Jeffrey A. Rynor graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1974. He received his undergraduate degree with Phi Beta Kappa distinction in 1978, and his law degree in 1980, both from the University of Florida. He then received an LL.M. degree in taxation from George Washington University in 1982. Now practicing with Mitrani, Rynor & Adamsky, P.A., Jeffrey Rynor specializes in matrimonial and civil litigation. He was named one of South Florida's "Top Lawyers" in the 2004 and 2005 editions of the South Florida Legal Guide.

He is chairperson of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust; past chairperson of the Individual Fund Development Committee for Big Brothers/Big Sisters; a director of Temple Emanu-El, The Hebrew Academy, and the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center; past national board member and past President of the University of Florida Chapter of Bacchus (Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning The Health Of University Students); past President of the Vizcayins; a past director of the Dade County Bar Association; a past President of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami; and past chairperson of the Equal Opportunities in the Profession Committee. He has received a National Hero Award for his many years and dedication as a Big Brother.

Jeffrey Rynor is the past Chair of the Dade County Bar Association By-Laws Committee, past Chair of their Matrimonial Law Committee, was honored by The Miami News in 1988 as one of Dade County's Good People, and by the Ronald McDonald House in 2002 as one of South Florida's 12 Good Men.

Bernie Yuman graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1967. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami in 1972.

An entertainment industry executive and philanthropist, Bernie Yuman is one of the most influential managers in the world. He founded Las Vegas-based SAY Entertainment in 1976, and Bernie Yuman Management in January 2000.

Yuman has been a friend of Muhammad Ali for over 40 years and he became his manager in January 2000. Bernie Yuman has been the manager of Siegfried & Roy for more than 29 years. He is the driving force behind the most successful line of entertainers in the history of Las Vegas. Yuman has been privileged to represent Don Shula, the winningest coach in the history of the National Football League as well as other athletes and entertainers.

Yuman has produced animation, television, and an IMAX movie, Siegfried & Roy, The Magic Box. He is the Executive Producer of Father of the Pride, the new Shrek-like animation series from Dreamworks, a smash hit on NBC.