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95 Years Strong. A Legacy of Leadership. A Future of Possibility.
Dear CRS Community,
In my first note to you, I shared how stepping into this role feels like coming home. Over these past weeks, that feeling has only deepened—especially as I’ve had the chance to connect with many of you, including former Executive Director Bill Dubey.
Bill and I discovered a funny connection—both of us once played Ruth in Camp’s production of The Pirates of Penzance! But in our conversation, he also shared something deeply meaningful about the resilience of Camp itself. After Freddie passed away in 1948, Bill was told that Rising Sun would not survive without its founder. And yet, under Bill’s leadership and beyond, it did more than survive—it flourished for another 47 ½ years. As Bill reminded me, what made that possible was the strength of the vision Freddie left behind, one so powerful that it could guide generations even after his lifetime.
That vision—of creating a place where young people from all over the world could come together to learn, lead, and discover their shared humanity—continues to guide us today. At its heart is a belief in respecting the dignity and rights of all people. It is a vision that asks us not only to honor tradition but also to grow with open minds, to learn from each other, and to carry those lessons forward. Our program has grown in scope since 1930, but its essence remains the same: to nurture compassionate, ethical leaders who carry empathy and integrity back into their communities. This is the foundation on which we will build the next chapter.
As we approach our celebration of Camp’s 95th Anniversary, I find Bill’s reflection especially powerful. It reminds me that our legacy is not just about what one person builds in their lifetime, but about the values we pass forward to others, values that shape generations. That is what Freddie began, what Bill carried forward, and what all of us, as staff, alumni, families, and friends, are called to steward today.
On October 25th, we will gather to celebrate this 95-year journey at our Reunion and Gala. It will be a chance to honor amazing past executive directors of LAJF, Bill Dubey and Helene Mattera, to reconnect with friends old and new, and to celebrate all that CRS has given us while experiencing a little of the Camp magic together—including opportunities to share stories (and sing!), gather in community, and even write a Vigil Letter. I hope you’ll join us for this once-in-a-generation celebration of our shared legacy. Visit lajf.org/crs95 to reserve your spot today.
I hope you will join us for this historic celebration. Your presence, your stories, and your support are what keep Freddie’s vision alive—not just as a memory, but as a living force shaping the leaders our world needs today.
"Tremendous kindness, openness, and willingness to learn and share with each other."
CRS Girls/Non-Binary Session in Photos
We've wrapped another incredible summer season here in Rhinebeck! The Girls/Non-Binary session concluded this past Monday, and you'll be able to tell from the photos how much fun our campers had. Check out the photo gallery from Session II on our blog now!
Check out an in-depth tour of Camp Rising Sun with this year's Girls/Non-Binary campers. See how the Clinton campus has changed, and how it's remained the same from when you might have been a camper. Click below to watch!
Meet the Facilitators and Instructors of TELE!
We are deeply grateful to the team behind TELE 2025! This summer’s sessions of The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE) thrived thanks to our incredible facilitators and guest intensive instructors, who brought creativity, energy, and heart to the virtual space.
“TELE has provided us with a unique opportunity to translate some of the CRS curriculum into the context in which the participants quite literally bring their cultural background with them to the program and share it with the cohort - we see people’s homes, gardens, participants give us cooking demos in their kitchens, we hold our breath when someone is cut off mid sentence because of electricity outage in the area, we send ‘are you and your family safe?' messages because someone missed a session due to a missile strike in their town or because of wildfires in their region.
In international spaces, the default is often to focus on commonalities, yet learning from our differences can be truly transformative. I think TELE does it really well.”
We are proud to introduce this year's recipients of the George E. Jonas (GEJ) Scholarship(in order from left to right): Carla, Isabella, Jelon, Elizabeth, Mira, and Misaki!
Each of these young leaders represents the values of Camp Rising Sun and the vision of our founder, George E. Jonas. The GEJ Scholarship provides tuition support to CRS alumni pursuing higher education, helping them carry forward the mission of building ethical, compassionate leaders in their communities and beyond. Visit our blog to learn more about this year's scholars!
The Countdown is On! Join Us for the 95th Anniversary Reunion + Gala Celebration
We’re just weeks away from a once-in-a-generation celebration of 95 years of Camp Rising Sun—a weekend filled with laughter, legacy, and global connection at the iconic TWA Hotel in NYC (October 24–26, 2025).
Buy your tickets or gala table today to ensure you don’t miss this historic gathering of alumni and friends from across the decades. Want to amplify your impact? Sponsorship opportunities are also available—show your support and be recognized.
At the gala, we’ll be honoring members of our community who are no longer with us through a special In Memoriam tribute. If you’d like to recognize someone, please submit their name and photo via this Google form.
Let’s come together to celebrate our past, present, and future.
This corner of our newsletter serves as a place to celebrate the lives of CRS alumni who have passed. We will reflect on their impact, share memories, and acknowledge the lasting light they brought to the CRS community. The warmth of their legacy will continue to shine brightly in the lives they touched.
Dr. Bruce Lee Douglas, July 14, 1925 – May 4, 2025 | CRS '40-'42
Dr. Douglas had a varied career spanning oral surgery, public health, politics and the private sector. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1925, Dr. Douglas enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943 and received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University. After receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University and specialty training in maxillofacial surgery at Columbia University, Dr. Douglas was deployed to Japan during the Korean War where he worked in field hospitals and Okayama’s main hospital...
Ralph I., MD. Ralph I. Lopez MD passed away on May 2, 2025. He is predeceased by his wife Paula, and survived by their daughter Abigail. Born 1942 in Puerto Rico, Ralph arrived in New York in 1946. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School where he excelled in Public Speaking and won a varsity letter in swimming. In 1957 he was selected to attend Camp Rising Sun, a scholarship camp. He also attended Boys State. He then went to Fordham University on Scholarship where he got a BA and received a Varsity Letter for Fencing. He graduated Cum Laude and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa. He attended NYU Medical School and graduated in 1963. He went to Bellevue Hospital where he was a Resident in Pediatrics. He finished his Residency at Harvard's Boston Childrens'. He stayed there for a Fellowship in the then new field of Adolescent Medicine. This led to his entering the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and starting the first unit for Adolescents in the Navy. He then joined the Faculty at Cornell Med College where he was Director of Adolescent Medicine and Director of Medical Education in Pediatrics. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Camp Rising Sun and later as President of a nascent group of Independent Doctors of New York. In 1982 his was the first Adolescent Medical practice in New York. He lectured extensively to doctors and to many private schools. Ralph loved music, opera - where he met Paula - drawing and woodworking (in the basement of his house in East Hampton). Ralph and Paula were married for 60 years. He was a loving husband and father. He also cherished his and the family dogs over the years. He will be missed so very much. Contributions may be made to: Leopold Schepp Foundation, 950 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022.
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