Jay W. Jensen was a legendary South Florida drama teacher. In a career which spanned over 5 decades, the Miami Beach High School drama instructor known as "The Teacher of The Stars," was an inspiration to hundreds, if not thousands of people. Jensen was born in Irvington, New Jersey. An only child, as a youth he developed a love of film and drama....
My life is different. I can't say it's boring. But how many teachers, after all these years, are still in contact with their students? They all tell me that I haven't changed-they have. I think the secret of life is to get up and do something worthwhile.
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I could go out and buy a Rolls Royce today, but I like to ride the bus because I can do character studies.
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Money is like manure. It doesn't do any good unless it is spread around.
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On his career: I am very happy that I did it (teach drama), because I touched so many lives and I hope that in my own way I inspired them, which I suppose I did or they (his students) wouldn't be in contact like they are.
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All of us are where we are at because of teachers and the education we received, we seem to forget that.
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Fact
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Taught Film and Film-Making classes, as well as a youth drama class for elementary school children at the Miami Beach Adult and Community Education Center @Fienberg-Fisher, from 1992 to 2006.
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Taught drama at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, Florida, for 25 years.
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Taught seniors at the Hebrew Home for the Aged, the Miami Beach Senior Citizens Center, and the Institute for Retired Professionals at the University of Miami from 1992 until shortly before his death in February 2007.
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Taught drama at Miami Beach Senior High School from 1959 to 1991.
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Taught and served as a drama consultant in Mexico City, Mexico, with the Peterson Schools, which has a sports and arts complex named in his honor.
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Did special speaking programs for WBPS Channel 2 in Miami, Florida.
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In the final year of his life, while stricken with cancer, Jensen still worked with developing talent. Among his three final students were actresses Karina Bonnefil (who acted in the movie, Confessions of a Thug (2005)), Sarah Rumbaut (New World School of the Arts), and actor Steven Brack (star of the independent film, "The Palooka".
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Created the drama program, The Little Stars, a program for seven and eight year old drama students at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center.
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In 1996, he bequeathed 1 million dollars to the Lowe Art Museum in Miami, Florida for a pre-Columbian wing named in honor of his mother, Thelma Jensen.
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Gave $100,000.00 to the Actor's Playhouse in Miami to their Theater's Capital Campaign. The Mainstage Auditorium Stage was dedicated in honor of Mr. Jensen and his parents, John W. and Thelma S. Jensen.
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He gave nearly 3 million dollars to support the University of Miami's School of Education. He gave 1 million to the University of Miami's Theatre Arts Department to create a Visiting Artist Endowment.
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Worked with the Peterson Schools in Mexico, and has both a sports and art complex named in his honor.
$11 Million
