A.J. and Heidi Solomon -
A Love Story that Began at the JCC

We are pleased to present Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Solomon's story in this month's Center Scene as part of our ongoing series of articles celebrating the center's 25th anniversary in this building.

Q. How long have each of you been members of the JCC?

A.J. and I have had a family membership since Ethan was born two years ago. We weren't members when we were living in Chicago (98-02). When we moved to Columbus, we belonged while living in German Village, and then when we moved to Gahanna in '03 we took a brief sabbatical. Otherwise we've both been members since we could walk.

Q. The two of you met during JCC Summer Camp. Do you remember how you met and what you thought when you first spotted each other?

AJ and I met at Alum Creek day camp (now known as the College Avenue Summer Camp) the summer we turned 16. He was working as a Junior Counselor and my sister (who was a senior at OSU) was as a Senior Counselor. I came to visit her (from Cleveland) and met AJ one summer day.

AJ stayed in touch with my sister and he called me once he realized we would both be at OSU that fall. After a few long phone calls, that summer, he told a few of his friends that I was the girl that he would marry even though we hadn't seen each other in 2 years.

That Fall, AJ and I become the best of friends and soon after we started dating. We chose to spend our last summer together at OSU working together back at Alum Creek Day Camp. Three years later, we got engaged and in 2002 we were married.

Q. Besides meeting your future spouse at the JCC, what does the center mean to both of you?

AJ literally grew up at the Center. He started there in pre-school, and spent summers at camp, and afternoons in basketball leagues. Even in college I used to watch him run up and down the court. He has clear memories that go back to the old JCC with the bowling alley, and the old indoor pool myth that someone had dropped a bar of soap in the old indoor pool and that is why your eyes always hurt after you swam.

I've always grown up with a strong sense of Judaism and had also spent many afternoon's and weekends at the old JCC in Cleveland Heights and later at the new in Pepper Pike (minutes from my parents). Not to mention my parents met a JCC dance back in the 60s.

We both love the sense of community and belonging that we get when we're there. It's always been "home." When AJ and I went to sign Ethan up for daycare last year, we were both overwhelmed by the warmth that we felt. AJ, in particular was reminded of all the good times he had and couldn't wait for Ethan to experience everything he had. All the things AJ learned growing up at the center Ethan is now experiencing.

Q. What seems to be Ethan's favorite part of coming to the JCC?

It's obvious that Ethan loves all the programs - especially those with music and movement. This spring we were at the Justin Roberts' concert and we watched as Ethan and Mim Chemfield shared a moment. He literally ran into her arms, and we watched as she made the connection that he was AJ's son. She had had AJ almost three decades earlier in her movement classes. She was so excited and was gushing with information about how much she loves Ethan's smile and how much he enjoys her class.

Q. What have been some of the activities in which you have participated at the JCC as a family?

I'm very involved with the Columbus Jewish Film Festival and helped to plan the JCC College Avenue Holiday Bazaar. The last two years we've also attended the annual Gala. AJ plays Basketball in the Fall, Winter and Spring, and Softball in the Summer. We love the Columbus Jewish Bookfair and Gallery Players productions. Also, this past Christmas, we spent the morning there, keeping busy with another one of the great family programs that they have on Christmas Day.

Q. How would you describe the JCC to a non-member?

The JCC offers so many different types of programming that there is literally something for everyone. It's the type of place that just feels right.

We would recommend the pre-school and camping programs to everyone! The staff is amazing, and they should be proud of the hard work and dedication that they put into everything they do! The curriculum and the caliber of talent is second to none.

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