Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees

You start out performing in the Miami Beach High School Rock Ensemble, working with legendary teacher Doug Burris, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE IT CAN LEAD YOU. For Adam Chester, it led from performing Elton John songs at Beach High, to working with the man himself, while simultaneously helping to make a difference through music.

Adam would attend USC’s famed Thornton School of Music, which would lead to his first music video on MTV with his song “Think I’m Goin’ Crazy.” Adam would befriend guitarist Davey Johnstone in a record store, which would change Adam’s life. Davey is Elton’s Music Director and an original band member, who still tours with him. Adam became the official “Surrogate Elton John” – playing piano and singing Elton’s parts in preparation for Tours, during rehearsals, and ultimately performing with the band on stage. This past April, Adam performed live on CBS with superstars Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Miley Cyrus and Miranda Lambert for the Grammy’s Salute to Sir Elton John.

Adam’s devotion to music came full circle when he and his wife spearheaded the annual “Music Appreciation Week” that brings world-famous musicians to Los Angeles area schools performing concerts, and promoting the importance of music education. Through his grandmother, Adam realized how the power of music can reawaken Alzheimer and Dementia patients, and he began performing at senior living facilities. Adam also wrote a best-selling book, S’Mother, about his childhood, his career in music, and most notably his mother and the insanely inappropriate letters she’s written him for over 30 years. (Mom saying on camera “And I’m still writing to Adam). That book, S’Mother, is currently in development for a sitcom.

Adam’s infectious smile, commitment to his craft, and talent keeps him constantly working and always creating; but the spark that Adam Chester discovered and nourished in Rock Ensemble at Miami Beach High, remains to this day. Just ask any one of the many Beach High friends Adam keeps in touch with!

After graduating from Miami Beach Senior High Malvin was named “head of class” for his graduating year. Even after graduating, Malvin always kept Beach High on his mind as he served as an original member of the MBSHS Alumni Association.

Malvin first began his law practice after his service in the US army as a 2nd Lieutenant during WW2. Then went on to be the youngest applicant to join the Florida bar in 1942 and he served as a Florida attorney for 73 years. Malvin went on to graduate from the University of Miami in 1943.

Malvin was an active member of his community during his time as an attorney serving in multiple clubs such as the Miami Beach Elks Lodge, the Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Pythias, and he served as the president of the Miami Beach JC’s. Malvin was elected Justice of the Peace and Small Claims Judge in 1952. This meant he also served as coroner in Miami Dade County.

He then went on to be elected to the Miami Beach City Council in 1959 and served as the Vice mayor of Miami Beach. Even President Eisenhower knew of Malvin’s skill and appointed him as the Honorary Consul to Haiti. Mal served as President Kennedy’s official greeter during the rally in the Orange Bowl to commemorate the surviving members of the 2506 Brigade who died launching an invasion of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

On the fun side, Mal not only rubbed elbows with huge political leaders, he also met many celebrities as well, such as the time he partied with Frank Sinatra and the Prince and Princess of Monaco for his 60th birthday. Malvin went on to draft and lobby the State Legislature’s passage of the then named Resort tax for Dade County in 1967. This allowed for communities all over Florida to market their destination courtesy of a tax paid by visitors.

Malvin instilled in all his kids his love for the community and now all his kids work to make their communities better places. Malvin was a great politician but an even better father, being married to Sophia Tendritch Englander and a father of six successful kids who all graduated from MBSH.

Born and raised in Miami Beach, Mitch was an editor, feature writer and movie critic for the Beach High newspaper, The Beachcomber. After graduating from New York University, Mitch wrote for Vanity Fair, Playboy, Crawdaddy, Esquire and Rolling Stone magazines, interviewing giants such as John Belushi, Peter Sellers, Bjorn Borg and George Harrison.

With his friend John Belushi’s encouragement, Mitch made the leap into screenwriting, collaborating with Saturday Night Live head writer Michael O’Donoghue on the cult classic “Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video” and the Christmas favorite “Scrooged”. Both films starred Bill Murray, who would become Mitch’s lifelong friend and collaborator. Mitch has written such films as “Great Expectations” starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke and Robert De Niro and “The Recruit” starring Al Pacino and Colin Farrell. He was a producer of Sofia Coppola’s Oscar and Golden Globe winning “Lost in Translation” and later was executive producer and co writer with Coppola and Bill Murray on the multi- nominated Netflix special “A Very Murray Christmas” starring Bill Murray, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus and Chris Rock.

Mitch’s lifelong love of Miami Beach inspired him to create, write and executive produce the acclaimed STARZ TV series “Magic City” which was shot entirely in Miami. Often referred to as Miami’s “The Godfather”, “Magic City” was fueled by Mitch’s love for his hometown and its legacy, celebrating the glamorous and explosive Ratpack/JFK era of Miami Beach. To honor his contribution to the story and image of Miami, the Miami Beach City Council dedicated March 4th, 2011 as “Mitch Glazer Day” and in 2012, Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado saluted Mitch and his “Magic City” in an official proclamation, giving Mitch the key to the city of Miami.

After over three decades as a screenwriter, Mitch would make his directorial debut with the movie “Passion Play”, starring Bill Murray, Megan Fox, and fellow Beach High alumni Mickey Rourke. Mitch and his late mother, the legendary Beach High teacher Zelda Glazer -- who has a Miami middle school named after her -- are the first mother and son duo to be inducted into the Beach High Hall of fame.

At Beach High Martin was an honors student, played tennis, was editor of the Newspaper, and was the National Honor Society Man of the Year. Martin attended the University of Miami earning a degree in business administration, a master of science in elementary education and a doctor of education in educational leadership.

Dr. Karp spent 13 years teaching in our public schools before being elected to the Miami-Dade County School Board where he currently serves as Vice Chair. Dr. Karp is responsible for many educational initiatives in areas including advanced academics, special needs programming, and extended foreign language classes. He drafted board policy, which resulted in the expansion of science programs and dramatically increased participation in the South Florida Science and Engineering Fair.

With The Children’s Trust, Dr. Karp targeted educational issues pertaining to sexual abuse and the internet solicitation of children. He advocated for Health Connect in our schools which led to having nurse practitioners in more than 100 schools. Dr. Karp’s School Board district includes Miami Beach and he worked with the community to advocate for the replacement of Miami Beach High along with upgrades and programmatic enhancements of multiple schools, including Fienberg-Fisher, Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 centers, South Pointe, North Beach, Biscayne and Treasure Island elementary schools and Nautilus Middle School.

He frequents Tallahassee, advocating for our needs here in South Florida to state leaders, the Governor and Lt. Governor. Dr. Karp and wife Danielle are the proud parents of Herschel, Benjamin and Samson Raphael. Being a supportive son, engaged husband, hands-on father, dedicated teacher in Miami Beach schools, and community leader, Dr. Karp looks forward to building on these achievements as his life’s work is not close to being completed.

At Beach High, Barry was a member of Latin club, biology club, and was in the National Honors society. After graduating, Barry would receive a scholarship to the University of Miami and was also awarded the then Food Fair supermarket scholarship.

Barry was an overachiever within the walls of Beach High, and at the University of Miami and he would go on to accomplish great things both as a husband, father, and doctor. In medical school, Barry was described as a great doctor and mentor and while doing his residency in Los Angeles, he would meet his future wife Biruta. After marrying Biruta, Barry would spend two years as a medical officer in the Air Force, and would also log in over 180 flight hours.

After the Air Force, Barry would become a seasoned professional in the medical field as an active expert in the field of blood pressure and clinical pharmacology. He has been in the forefront of hypertension research and has made marvelous contributions to the field with hundreds of his works published.

During his career Barry has held leadership positions at the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine and was Principal Investigator and Chair of the VA Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents. Accomplishments like these have given rise to Barry’s international recognition and he has published over 200 manuscripts, 39 book chapters, and a plethora of instructional videos.

A native of Miami, Florida, Coach McKenzie inspires and motivates his young people to work hard and reach for the sky. The mission of his program was to “develop a foundation for championship programs and use basketball as a tool to empower young men to be champions in the classroom, in their families, and their communities.”

A coach, author, and educator, Larry McKenzie was the first coach to win four straight state titles in the 100-year history of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball at Minneapolis Patrick Henry. Most recently, he became the first coach in Minnesota history to lead two schools to multiple state titles after having now led Minneapolis North to two straight Class A state titles.

He is a long-time community and youth advocate with 20 plus years of experience working with urban youth. His service to young people has earned him numerous awards and recognition including KARE 11‘s Eleven Who Care, KTCA’s Everyday Hero, the Minneapolis Park Board’s Volunteer of the Year, and Positive Image Father of the Year. Among Coach McKenzie’s many accolades include being named Section and Region Coach of the year three consecutive years: 1999, 2000, and 2001. In 2001 he was also named Class AAA Coach of the Year, and selected by the NFHSC as Minnesota Basketball Coach of the Year. On November 1, 2014, McKenzie was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association 2014 class Hall of Fame, becoming the first African-American coach to receive such an honor.

He is author or co-author in three publications, Basketball So Much More Than Just a Game, Let Me Testify and Every Winner Needs A Coach. He is featured in Chuck Brown’s X’s O’s and W’s. He is host of a weekly program titled Sports and Real Talk With Coach McKenzie on the Survival Radio Christian Network. He and Minneapolis North was featured in a short documentary “Within Inches” and second documentary was completed last season entitled Northside Pride.

McKenzie is married to Pamela Wilkins and father to Lawrence McKenzie and Rashida (Karandick) Ogunride. The proud grandfather of four granddaughters, Kailah and Lauren and Olivia McKenzie and Maya Ogunride.

Her creative family was building Miami Beach’s landmarks as Roz’s elementary school teachers discovered her artistic talent. By age 15, her woodblock print graced the cover of National Art Education magazine. Enjoying Beach High included being a sweet-sixteen debutante of the Israeli Ambassador’s Ball at the Fontainbleau; but a huge dose of reality also hit as Roz led Sorrota Service Club’s weekly visits to neglected children in Miami: the residents of American Children’s Home.

Merritt earned a Bachelor’s degree in Design from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts at University of Florida. She had a successful career in the design industry spanning 35 years, garnering many accolades and awards.

Roz joined the Miami Beach Alumni Association Board in 2001 where, while writing the Alumni website Newsletter she is fond of saying she found her voice as a writer. In 2002 she became secretary of the Alumni Association where she volunteered tirelessly writing the school’s history for the 1926—2001 alumni directory. Roz was Alumni President from 2008—2009. She continued her service and dedication to the alumni association as the Pathway to Success Co-chair, the website’s newsletter editor from 2009—2014, the Executive Director from 2012-2014 and she received four President’s awards of appreciation. Returning to her fine art talents, Roz honed her hidden ability as a writer and channeled her many years of experience and connections with the alumni association when deciding to interview 60 of our Hall of Fame members. Her upcoming book is titled: Miami Beach High! Journey Among Decades of Fame.