Rossmoor Director to Head Long Beach Jewish Community Center

A longtime Rossmoor official will step down next month to head a Long Beach Jewish community center with a $5.6 million budget.

Jeffrey Rips, Rossmoor Community Services District Board member, recently announced he intended to resign from the board July 12.

“It’s an honor for me to serve to my community,” Rips said. ‘It’s tough to step away.”

In an interview with Patch, Rips said he’s been given a longtime dream – a promotion to the position of executive director at the Alpert Jewish Community Center in Long Beach. He has previously served as the director of membership services at the center, a nonprofit that has about 150 people on staff and a budget of about $5.6 million, according to Rips.

Working with the Rossmoor board and staff has been a joy, Rips said, and he wouldn’t step down unless it was for something big.

A 12-year Rossmoor resident, Rips has served as both RCSD president and vice-president.

Rips said he was proud of the work the board has done during his 5-year tenure, especially several capital improvement projects like the creation of the storage facility at Rush Park and the renovation of the community center at Rossmoor Park.

While directing the Alpert Center, Rips said he wouldn’t be able to focus on the RCSD and that lead to his decision to resign.

“It’s an all-encompassing position," Rips said. "It just wouldn’t be right for me to be on the Rossmoor board (at the same time)."

In a written statement, Board President Michael Maynard said the board “regretfully accepted” Rips’ resignation.

“I am happy for Jeffrey, but saddened that he is leaving the Board,” Maynard said, “Jeffrey has been a true leader and trusted colleague on the Board. He will be missed, but we have all profited from his contributions to Rossmoor.”

Despite his Long Beach promotion, Rips said he had no desire to leave Rossmoor, where he lives with his wife and three children. He said his wife agrees with him.

“We are definitely staying,” Rips said. “That’s our last house.”

At its June 11 meeting, the board decided to fill the vacancy by appointment.

According to RCSD staff, to apply for the vacancy, Rossmoor residents must submit a letter of interest and/or resume with a brief summary of person’s interest qualifications and background to the RCSD offices no later than 5 p.m. July 3. Letters can be delivered or mailed to the following address: Chris Montana, General Manager. Rossmoor Community Services District, 3001 Blume Drive, Rossmoor, CA 90720

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