GAINESVILLE — Marvin Orenstein spent decades enriching the prep football community in Hall County.
This coming season, that community will take a moment to recognize Orenstein's lifetime of giving.
On August 19, Gainesville High will travel to West Hall for a season-opening showdown at the "Hot Gates of Spartan Field" in Oakwood. The first contest in five years between the former region rivals would have created enough buzz on its own, but now the match-up will carry added weight as it will also be the first "Marvin Orenstein's Kickoff Classic."
A longtime Gainesville businessman, Orenstein, who ran Gem Jewelry until his death in 2012, made countless donations to programs throughout the county -- including an engraved watch given to each school following each season (which teams awarded to standouts on each squad), a tradition continued by his daughters Linda Orenstein and Temme Schooler, who still run the business.
"His generosity means so much to us," West Hall coach Tony Lotti told Linda Orenstein and Schooler on Thursday when he and Red Elephants coach Bruce Miller broke the news to the sisters inside Gem Jewelry. "His passion for football here was something we wanted to honor. And we figured this was just one small way of doing that."
The donation of the watches -- which has become legendary within Hall County -- began in 1946 to Gainesville High, then the only school in the county with a football program. The donations spread around the county as programs were instituted.
"It was a way for us to honor my grandfather and his memory," said Linda Orenstein, whose grandfather, Mose Eplan, moved to Gainesville and opened Gem Jewelry in 1936. "He loved sports so much. If it was a slow day he would close the office -- and Gainesville High was just two blocks down the street then -- and he would go out to practices and throw footballs or do whatever he could to help. He was a big kid himself, really. And the kids loved him.
"So many outstanding players who have come through Hall County have won that award, and it's not just kids who have gone on to big things in sports but also people who have gone on to become community leaders. The award got so big that when he died the big question everybody asked was were we going to continue it?"
The sisters ensured Orenstein's tradition would continue.
"He got more joy out of this than anything he ever did," said Schooler, who had to dry her eyes during the announcement.
"He would be so proud of this," Linda Orenstein added. "I don't know what to say; this is incredible."
Miller said both coaches and programs were thrilled to be able to provide the reciprocation.
"We're honoring a family that has been so involved in high school football in this area; this shows how much we honor them," he said. "Every year that award is the climax of our banquet."
Lotti noted the importance of the two-way award as a teaching tool.
"We try to teach our kids gratitude, and sometimes kids -- adults too -- feel entitled. But when someone does something like this out of the goodness of their hearts, with no strings attached, you should be grateful," Lotti said. "And we are."
