Ethel Lazarowitz Richer

Ethel Lazarowitz Richer, 91, of Delray Beach, Fla., died Jan. 27, 2016. She was born in Brooklyn and moved as an infant to Newark. In 1925 her family moved to Irvington and then back to Newark in 1930. She moved to Perth Amboy in 1951, Clark in 1957, and Delray Beach in 1985.

While living in Newark, Mrs. Richer worked for the U.S. Office of Dependency Benefits, as a bookkeeper for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and at the Hickory Grill Restaurant. In 1944, she went to work as a bookkeeper during the summers in the Richer Hotel in Sharon Springs, NY.

She graduated from South Side High School in Newark, where she was a member of both the chorus and orchestra. She later took classes at Union County College in Cranford.

She was one of the founders of Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah in Clark and served as the third sisterhood president. She was very active in Bingo to raise funds and was president of B’nai B’rith Women’s Tov chapter for three years; she was the recipient of the Presidential Award for both B’nai B’rith and B’nai B’rith Women. She served as liaison for the Conservative Congregations Sisterhood Treasurers Association (comprised of sisterhoods located between Union and Toms River). In 1972, she was elected Union County Committeewoman.

In Delray Beach, she served as co-president of ORT, for which she worked on their card parties and fashion shows and cochaired their programs.

Predeceased by her husband of almost 53 years, Harvey H., in 1997, and twin sisters, Laura Katz and Shirley (Frank) Goodman, she is survived by Mark Rosen, her former high school classmate and long-time companion; her daughter, Jean-Ellen King (Sandy Wasserman); her son, Alan B. (Jessica) Richer; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were held Jan. 31 with arrangements by Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, Boynton Beach, Fla. Memorial contributions may be made to ORT or a cancer foundation of one’s choice.

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