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"Joe has always been conscious of community," says Julian Wolf, federation president. "He is like the father teaching the child, a mentor who has great wisdom that he allows us to draw from."

Born in 1919 to Russian immigrants in San Francisco, Zatkin grew up amid hardship, living in an orphanage when his widowed mother couldn't support him. At 13, he asked for a bar mitzvah and then celebrated one, the only one of his siblings to do so. With no money for college, he got his first job in 1937, working as a clerk with an insurance company.

His involvement in Jewish organizations developed along with his business career. He became president of the local AZA. He met his future wife, Vera, at a B'nai B'rith picnic.

After World War II, the Zatkins joined Oakland's Temple Beth Abraham and the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay. Their contribution to each was chai — $36 dollars total.

He became a successful entrepreneur, launching a soft-drink business with his brother and then Atwood Ltd., a retail import business. When it was sold in 1972, Zatkin applied his skills to real estate investment and management.

In 1979, at 60, he enrolled in a course at Cal State Hayward to see what college was like. By 1984, he had earned a degree in the history of ideas.

Looking ahead, Zatkin says: "I am concerned that there continue to be a unifying factor for the Jewish community. The state of Israel provides that, but that feeling seems to be in jeopardy. I would like to see our people continue to come together to be unified."

The Zatkins are parents of Steven Zatkin and Cheryl Zatkin-Steres and have three grandchildren, Joshua Zatkin-Steres and Michael and Rachel Zatkin

"Joe exemplifies all the best of being Jewish. He is charitable, caring, and thoughtful," says Janet King, who will chair Thursday evening's event with husband George.