An Evening of Israeli Wine & Honors

Dedicating her life to leadership, service, and community, Susan Grelick is a trailblazing public servant and attorney who served as Legislative Director and Counsel for the NYS Senate and NYS Senate Majority Leader, and was the first woman elected Amherst Town Clerk and Town Supervisor. During her tenure, Amherst achieved national recognition as one of the safest and best places to live in the US, Susan led transformative projects while championing diversity, youth engagement, and recreation initiatives that shaped the town’s identity. The Grelick Family Endowment for Leadership, Legacy & Community celebrates three generations devoted to faith, service, and philanthropy. It honors the enduring values of integrity, generosity, and civic pride that continue to guide the family’s legacy.

Raised by her grandparents from Kiev, Ukraine, Marilyn Shuman was guided by strong Jewish values that shaped her life of purpose. After living and working on a kibbutz in Israel, she returned to Buffalo, where she and her husband, Irving Shuman, built a legacy rooted in family, community, and philanthropy. Marilyn’s impact is reflected in her support of the University at Buffalo’s Department of Jewish Thought, where she established an endowment for visiting professors and student scholarships, as well as in her dedication to Roswell Park’s cancer research. She has also supported organizations including the Jewish National Fund, the JCC, and the Buffalo Jewish Federation. A devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, her lifetime of service stands as a lasting legacy of love and leadership that will endure for generations.