Federation to pay tribute to activist and ‘treasure’
A man who is “always available whenever anybody needs him” and an agency that is an “absolute treasure” of the community will be honored at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks.
On Wednesday, June 20, at The Jewish Center in Princeton, Richard M. Glazer of Lawrenceville will be honored with the Community Service Award, and the second annual Community Ambassador Award will be presented to Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County.
Glazer, in being recognized for a “lifetime of service and dedication to this community,” is carrying on a proud family tradition, said federation executive director Andrew Frank. Glazer, like his father, Henry, served as president and campaign chair of the Trenton federation — a forerunner of PMB.
A tireless community activist, Richard Glazer has been a leader with numerous agencies and a guiding force, since its inception in the mid-’60s, of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Mercer, which he currently serves as secretary, said Frank.
Trained as a lawyer and businessman, Glazer has been in the community his entire life — except when he attended Harvard and Yale — and is “a one-man community historian who possesses a wealth of detailed knowledge,” said Frank. “He’s got a razor-sharp mind for legal details and nuances and is always available whenever anybody needs him.”
Glazer also performs a creative service to the community, putting into practice an avocation in which he excels, said Frank, and “carrying out the role of resident photographer of the federation, foundation, and other agencies.”
The federation executive also pointed out that Glazer “stands out in any crowd. He is invariably carrying an enormous suitcase packed with files of historical documents — and, of course, he always wears his signature cowboy hat.”
The Community Ambassador Award is given to an agency in recognition of extraordinary service to the community — in the case of JF&CS, said Frank, that amounts to 75 years of helping community members. “JF&CS is an absolute treasure,” he said, “as the agency fulfills its outstanding role as the eyes, ears, and ‘hands up’ for members of the community who are most in need.”
“Much of the work done by its incredibly active and dedicated lay and professional staff and leadership — because of the nature of the clients they serve — is not necessarily seen on a day-to-day basis,” said Frank, “but if there’s a person in trouble, if a family needs food, or an elderly couple needs rent, there’s a place for them to go — Jewish Family & Children’s Services.”
The annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks will take place Wednesday, June 20, 6-8 p.m. at The Jewish Center in Princeton. To RSVP, contact ibero@jewishpmb.org or 609-219-0555.
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