Your Neighbor | Arthur Ancowitz

Throughout his years as a physician, Dr. Arthur Ancowitz always held one matter close to his heart: stroke prevention.

In 1967, he created the Stroke Foundation as a way to teach the public about the prevention and treatment of strokes. A nonprofit organization, the Stroke Foundation also funds research for a cure, such as its current efforts at Sarasota Memorial Hospital concerning “ministrokes” or its study at New York University about cerebral blood flow in elderly patients with hypertension.

Recently, the organization set up a website, strokefoundationusa.org.

“You can find a lot of information about stroke prevention, blogs about high blood pressure, how stroke occurs in women and why it occurs … a whole host of subjects in that area can be found on the website,” Ancowitz said.

His career in medicine is what brought him to Longboat Key. Years ago, the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort hosted meetings sponsored by the Syracuse Medical School about updates in internal medicine.
Of course, with Longboat Key’s scenery, Ancowitz could not spend all his time in meetings. A dedicated runner, Ancowitz entered a few local contests and began to understand the draw of the Key. One particular six-mile run inspired Ancowitz to make the experience more frequent.

After moving here permanently and continuing his study of strokes, Ancowitz needed a few “relaxations,” as he likes to say. These activities, such as writing rhyming poetry, going to the opera and visiting museums, brought out his more creative side. About four years ago, he started tap dancing classes at the YMCA after a YouTube video of Bob Hope and James Cagney tap dancing inspired him.

Ancowitz continues his education in tap with instructor Mike Dunn every week at the Senior Friendship Center in Sarasota, where he appreciates the rhythm of the dance and the workout it provides.

“I enjoy the knowledge that one can aspire to be Fred Astaire or Jimmy Cagney, but never reach that point,” said Ancowitz, laughing. “That motivates me.”

Neighborhood: Bay Isles
Your neighbor since: 1989

Contact Kelsey Grau at [email protected]