Joshua Gortler has received recognition for his contributions to the American system ofgeriatric social work, earning the respect of colleagues and government officials and thefamilies he has served. He galvanized the support of community leaders to turn Seattle's Jewishnursing home into a place based in humanitarian and religious values, respected for highstandards of its service to residents and their families and for fair and kind treatment of itsemployees. Late in life, he undertook the challenge of speaking to young people about hisexperiences as a remnant of the generations of Jewish families who had once called Polandtheir home.