In this interview she talks about student teaching in East Harlem, her teaching experiences in Providence, Rhode Island and the decision to reside in Las Vegas. When she was finally able to be promoted outside of the classroom, among her highlights was being Director of Special Education Programs and Services for the Clark County School District. In 1991, she served in a dual role as Manager of the Office of Development and Education Improvement for CCSD and Executive Director of the newly incorporated Clark County Public Education Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization established to improve public education in Southern Nevada. Among her many community activities is serving on numerous board and founder of the Henderson Arts Council.
Text
Flora Mason (1940- ) is a Las Vegas, Nevada philanthropist and community leader. She was born Florica Esformes to a Sephardic Jewish parents who emigrated from Greece to New York. This Mediterranean influence can be seen in the meals she serves for the Jewish holidays. Flora?s grandfather had a pushcart business in New York and her father became a produce broker, which led the family to Miami, Florida. She graduated from high school in Miami and also met Stuart Mason there. The young couple married in 1958. They had been married for 58 years when Stuart passed away in 2012. In this oral history, Flora recalls her life?from witnessing signage that read: no blacks, no dogs, no Jews in the South to meeting her husband while a teenager to raising her three children in Las Vegas. Along the way, she has always found time to form fast friendships and to inspire productive community organizations. v For example, Flora and Stuart founded the Las Vegas Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in 1970. It was a disease that their daughter Deborah had suffered from. They also established the Mason Undergraduate Peer Coach Program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries in 2006. Flora was the first woman elected by the general membership to serve on the Temple Beth Sholom Board of Directors. She has served on the National Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, been involved with the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the Anti-Defamation League among many other Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations. Flora?s college education began at the University of Miami and focused on completing both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at UNLV, where she majored in English literature. She then became a lecturer in the UNLV English department from 1985 to 1993. Flora and Stuart Mason had three children: sons William and James who joined the family?s successful three-generation commercial construction business Taylor International, and daughter Deborah. In this oral history, Flora shares the joy of being a grandparent, her love of travel, and the opportunities of meeting Israeli dignitaries over the years. She also candidly reflects on dealing with grief and the Jewish rituals surrounding death.
Text
The monthly newsletters from Congregation Ner Tamid from 2000, include columns by the Rabbi and President, school news, event announcements, tributes and yahrzeits.
Text
Issues of Chabad Times, a publication of Chabad of Southern Nevada, for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. The newspaper includes information and photographs about local events, advertisements, advice columns, and general interest articles.
Text
Group of family photographs from Irwin and Susan Molasky, including portraits and bar and bat Mitzvahs of grandchildren.
Image
Group of photographs showing the Molasky's at events with friends and celebrities.
Image
This program is from the gala opening of the Thomas and Mack Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1983, which featured a celebrity lineup including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Diana Ross. The program provides details of the contributions of Jerome Mack and Parry Thomas to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Text
This study was conducted in 2005 to better understand the Jewish community in Southern Nevada. The themes of the study include population growth, population geographic shift and dispersal, Jewish youth, Jewish identity, increasing synagogue membership and general participation in Jewish causes.
Text
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress. This set is part of the Senator Chic Hecht Papers and includes floor statements delivered by Senator Hecht during the 99th Congress, 1985-1986. The topics of the statements include natural resources issues such as water rights and the establishment of Great Basin National Park, as well as international issues of peace in the Middle East and United States' relationship with the Soviet Union. There are also statements regarding legislation of gun ownership, speed limits, and nuclear waste in Nevada.
Text
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress. This group of documents is part of the Senator Chic Hecht Papers and includes floor statements delivered by Senator Hecht during the 100th Congress in 1987 and 1988. Topics addressed by Senator Hecht include tributes to distinguished citizens of Nevada, including Irwin Molasky, Arthur S. Waltzman, and the 1987-1988 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team. Other topics are nuclear waste, energy and water appropriations, the PEPCON rocket fuel explosion, and union and right-to-work issues.
Text
