I’ve known Dr. Dennis Denenberg for years and never had even an inkling that the man who can talk nonstop about almost anything had overcome speech challenges as a child thanks in part to a nurse named Edna Schreiber. He recently expressed his gratitude to the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development by gifting it with elements of his extensive The Wizard of Oz collection.
The cabinet was designed to mimic the entrance to Emerald City. Just as the road to Emerald City was lined with colorful flowers, the cabinet is flanked by vivid red poppies.
“The only people who could understand what I was saying were my mother and sister,” Dennis recalls of the speech-related challenges he faced during childhood. “They always had to ‘translate’ for my father, who could not understand a word I said.” Dennis overcame his speech impediment thanks to Edna Schreiber, a nurse who originally led the Society for Crippled Children and Adults, which was founded in 1936 in response to the polio epidemic. The organization, which later became affiliated with the National Easter Seals Society, was headed by Schreiber until her retirement in 1967.
Staff carried on Schreiber’s work and by the late ’80s, specialized pediatric services were being emphasized, which prompted a break from the national organization to ensure a continued localized focus. In 1994, it became known as the Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center, rebranding in 2018 to the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development.
Dennis has always been indebted to the Schreiber Center and demonstrated his support in various ways over the years. A recent health issue prompted him to recognize the fact that “you can’t take it with you” and so he decided to start making plans for passing his prized collections on to people and organizations that would appreciate and benefit from them.
One of his collections is focused on The Wizard of Oz. Dennis pinpoints his love for the film to seeing it play out in “living color” on his family’s first color television. “I’d always seen it in black-and-white. When I saw it in color, I was mesmerized!” he says. The retired educator (Millersville University) also shares that he appreciates the life lessons the story emphasizes, notably the notion that “there’s no place like home” and qualities such as courage, heart and perseverance. According to a press release issued by the Schreiber Center, Dennis’ Oz-like story “is a testament to the transformative work Schreiber continues to do, embodying the courage to overcome challenges, a passion for education and sharing wisdom, and the kindness of paying it forward.”
The Wizard of Oz installation came together rather quickly last summer and involved a Schreiber parent, Alison McIndoe, who heads AK Interiors and The Shoppe at AK Interiors. Alison, who designed the cabinet that holds the memorabilia and collectibles, worked with a local cabinetmaker, Finer Side Woodworking; electrical contractor, Stephen Daniels; and Two Dudes Painting Company to bring the project to life. “That incredible cabinet was designed to look exactly like the entrance door to the Emerald City” says Dennis.
The installation was unveiled during a holiday open house at Schreiber on December 11. The timing was apropos, as the film was celebrating its 85th anniversary and the film version of Wicked had just debuted in theatres.
Information: Schreiberpediatric.org
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