I was born in Brooklyn, NY. When I was 10 years old my family moved to Hicksville, Long Island. I went back to Brooklyn to attend college and graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in graphics. I was in Prattʼs Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Signal Corp at graduation. I served on active duty in Germany just prior to the big troop build-up in Viet Nam. I married the former Renee Lax of Maplewood, NJ, while I was on active duty.

After I was discharged, Renee and I lived in Elizabeth, NJ. I started my career working as a graphic designer and art director in New York City. We moved to West Orange and joined the Jewish Center of West Orange, which has since changed itʼs name to Bʼnai Shalom. Our three daughters attended the Religious School and had their Bat Mitzvahs at the synagogue.

I graduated from Pratt Institute again, this time with a MS in package design. Over the years I worked for several companies as the head of their art department. Since 1988 I have operated Thomas Phon Graphics as a full-service graphic design and communication firm, serving a wide variety of clients in many industries. For many years I was an adjunct instructor at several local colleges in New York City and New Jersey, teaching courses from drawing, typography, photography and graphic design to computer graphics.

I have been generous with my artistic skills and have used them to help both the synagogue and the Menʼs Club to communicate more effectively with their members. I created the Dove/Shin logo that is used on all synagogue stationary, publications and signs. In addition, I designed ad journals, brochures, booklets, banners, posters and countless flyers for both synagogue and Menʼs Club programs. I am a 40-year member of the Menʼs Club at Bʼnai Shalom in West Orange. During this time I have held many leadership positions, including president, and I have been responsible for several programming innovations. The program Iʼm most proud of is our toy drive. This year will mark the 29th anniversary of the Bʼnai Shalom Menʼs Club Toy Drive. Toys are collected during the autumn months and distributed to several local charities prior to Chanukah. Other programming events I originated included a Tuesday Night Minyan and Poker program and an evening Minyan and Basketball program. For over 30 years I managed the ushers for the High Holidays. Over 45 Bʼnai Shalom men participated as ushers for the synagogue every year. As an active member of Bʼnai Shalom I have been a vice president and served on many committees. Iʼm the longest continuously serving member of Bʼnai Shalomʼs Board of Trustees. I am one of the synagogueʼs representatives to the Board of Directors of the Jewish Memorial Chapel in Clifton, the only community-owned, non-profit funeral home in New Jersey.

I have been a member of the Jewish War Veterans for more than 40 years. In 2010, I was honored to be named Man of the Year by Jewish War Veterans Post 709, East Meadow/Levittown. I am also a long-time member of Bʼnai Brith.

I am honored to be chosen as Bʼnai Shalomʼs Menʼs Club Man of the Year for 2014.