Richard’s life was changed forever when he was forced to flee Nazi Germany as a young, Jewish boy. He was rescued through the extraordinary kindness of a British family in 1939.
This experience left an indelible mark on his life. From the very beginning he understood that his life had been saved. Over time, Richard developed the notion that he was set out to better the world through moral and ethical action. He decided to open a fund with us to provide for the causes that supported him throughout his life.
Human service, music and arts, healthcare, civil rights and refugee services are meaningful causes to him that he also supports through his giving. Richard feels strongly about supporting Jewish organizations that are dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead – honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors, and Gentiles who selflessly helped to save Jews from genocide, often with great personal courage and personal risk. These organizations now work to keep history from repeating itself.
Additionally, the plight of today’s refugee community resonates with his own experience fleeing Nazi Germany. That is why he supports organizations that help refugee families reestablish their lives and overcome the barriers to successful integration in their new communities. Many of these organizations provide needed medical care and give children a healthy start in life. They also provide the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
Another meaningful event in his life was his marriage to Betty in 1960. They married at a time when intolerance prevailed against couples who were from different ethnic or racial backgrounds. This opened him up to a whole new world and sensitized him to the problem of racism in the United States. This experience made Richard passionate about supporting a number of civil rights organizations at the forefront of tackling these problems.
One of the great joys in his life has been listening to and participating in the performance of classical music. He enjoys volunteering with organizations in Central New York that are dedicated to supporting the performance of classical music. He was first exposed to classical music in his home in Germany. His father played the flute and he and some friends would gather occasionally to play together in their apartment. Later on, it became important to Richard to support music and arts organizations.
Opening his fund has been an easy way for him to facilitate annual giving to many of the causes he cares about. Leaving a portion of his estate to us will allow this giving to continue even after he’s gone.
