George Hantgan

George Hantgan, a northern New Jersey professional Jewish communal leader for some seven decades died early Saturday morning, December 6th at the age of 98. He served as the first executive director of the Englewood Jewish Community Center which eventually became the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, Tenafly, NJ. He retained the title of Executive Director Emeritus. Mr. Hantgan has been listed in Who’s Who in World Jewry among other publications.

Mr. Hantgan, along with his wife Ida (affectionately called “Hon” by all) , resided in Englewood, NJ for 50 years where he served on the Public Board of Education including a term as its president. Mr. Hantgan was active in numerous civic endeavors including the Head Start program in the 1960’s.

Until his passing, George Hantgan was engaged as a congregant and served as a long standing board member of Temple Emanuel, Closter, NJ. He routinely received the honor of being called to perform the first Torah blessings as a descendant of the ancient priestly “Kohen” order. He also was a long term board member of the Community School for learning and attention deficit, and involved in the founding of the Frisch School and the Moriah School in Englewood, NJ.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, he graduated from Erasmus High School and earned a bachelor degree from Brooklyn College, attending at night while working full time. He went on to obtain an MSW from Columbia University and masters of public administration from NYU.

Mr. Hantgan received several invitations to the White House over the years beginning with a visit to meet President Herbert Hoover while a delivery boy for the “Brooklyn Eagle” newspaper. In college, as president of his college’s night school student body, he was called to meet over lunch with Eleanor Roosevelt to discuss academic issues. He was at the White House for the signing of the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty between Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, and upon the president’s request, he met again at the White House with Jimmy Carter to explain why he felt the Administration’s policies at the time were anti-Israel in sentiment.

Throughout World War II, Mr. Hantgan volunteered for military duty, but was declared medically unfit due to suffering from perforated eardrums. As an alternative means of serving his country, he worked for the United Service Organization (USO) with a focus on reaching out to Jewish personnel in the field. After the war, Hantgan moved to Boston working at the Hecht House, a Jewish settlement center. There he met his future wife, then a graduate student at Simmons College and fellow social worker.

During his tenure in Englewood and on, Hantgan also served as the founding executive of the local United Jewish Appeal federation where he oversaw multimillion dollar annual fund raising campaigns and the establishment of an enduring endowment effort. Many of the area’s leading philanthropists were first solicited by Mr. Hantgan who always spoke frankly of one’s obligation to give back to the community. Local institutions such as Englewood Hospital and Medical Center were beneficiaries of his fund raising efforts. He was instrumental in opening up the hospital to Jewish professional opportunities and lay leadership positions.

For many years, Mr. Hantgan was a member of the field faculty of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University where in 2005 he was a recipient of Post 50th Lifetime Achievement Award. Many of his students went on to assume professional leadership positions in Jewish communal service throughout the United Sates, in Israel and elsewhere.

Chuck Berkowitz, the recently retired president and CEO of the Jewish Home Family in Rockleigh, NJ was both one of Mr. Hantgan’s graduate students and subsequent employee. The two remained confidantes and steadfast friends. Mr. Hantgan last resided at the Jewish Home where his wife continues to live.

An ardent Zionist, George Hantgan devoted much effort for varied Jewish and Israeli causes. He made some several dozen trips to Israel beginning in 1965 and was on a first name basis with several prime ministers. Under his professional leadership, the local UJA federation adopted among other Israeli communities, Kiryat Shmona as a sister city.

Mr. Hantgan remained lucid and involved, participating in a Skype chat session the day before Thanksgiving with students from the Frisch School on the topic “What Can Jews Living in America Do on Behalf of Israel?”

George and Hon loved to travel taking numerous trips to Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Russia, Finland, countries of the former Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, Viet Nam, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands, Northern Africa, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and numerous treks to South America including an excursion around Cape Horn, one of 67 cruises they enjoyed together. The couple was renowned for their countless hours on many a ship’s dance floor.

George Hantgan is survived by his wife of 65 years, his children: Dr. Jeffrey Hantgan and his wife Rita Sugarman of Arlington, MA, Roberta Hantgan of Lawrence, MA, Richard Hantgan and his wife Ann Palevsky Hantgan of Owings Mills, MD; and his grandchildren Rachel, Michael, Eli and Sara. Mr. Hantgan grew up a loving and respectful son of Nathan (Nachum) and Eva (Chava) (nee Dobrominski) and brother to Murray, Dave and Anne (Wellins) of blessed memory, numerous sisters and brothers-in-law as well as many nieces and nephews.

Per Mr. Hantgan’s expressed wishes, the funeral will be held on Monday, December 8th at 1 PM

at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades (Taub Auditorium),

411 E. Clinton Ave, Tenafly, NJ 07670 .

Donations in George Hantgan’s memory can be made to the Kaplen JCC, Temple Emanuel of Closter, NJ, and the Jewish Home Foundation.

Shiva Information

Jewish Home @ Rockleigh 10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647

Shiva and Minyan will take place at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh.

Formal shiva visiting hours will take place in the library at the Jewish Home.

Minyan and additional visiting hours will take place in the Jewish Home's synagogue, as follows:

Monday, December 8th - immediately following interment until 5:30pm. Minyan and additional visiting hours at 6:30-8:00pm in the synagogue at the Jewish Home.

Tuesday, December 9th: 3:00-5:30pm formal visiting hours. Minyan and additional visiting hours at 6:30-8:00pm in the synagogue at the Jewish Home.

Wednesday, December 10th: 3:00-5:30pm formal visiting hours. Minyan and additional visiting hours at 6:30-8:00pm in the synagogue at the Jewish Home.

Thursday, December 11th: 3:00-5:30pm formal visiting hours. Minyan and additional visiting hours at 6:30-8:00pm in the synagogue at the Jewish Home.

Friday, December 12th: 10am-12pm formal visiting hours.

Please take a moment to sign this online guestbook. You may leave a note for the family or perhaps a memory you would like to share.

A Virtual Candle may also be placed in the guestbook if you wish.

We at Gutterman-Musicant wish to express our heartfelt thanks on behalf of the mourners for your support during this difficult time.

As a courtesy, we offer to all those grieving access to our Dignity Memorial Compassion Helpline 1-866-649-9644.

This service is available to you 24 hours a day for 3 months.

Your calls will be answered by a license professional specially trained in grief counseling.