Joseph S. "Joe" Slavet

Joseph S. Slavet, born March 31, 1920, died on May 4, 2024. Joseph was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Muriel V. Slavet and his brother, Hyman Slavet. He leaves his daughters, Amy Glaser, Beth Slavet (Arne Gadeberg), Julie Slavet (John Walber), grandchildren, David Glaser (Kelly née Hasson), Joshua Glaser (Mary née Duran), Daniel Walber (Gavin Mevius), Elizabeth Walber and his great-grandchildren, Julia and Genevieve Workman, and Charlotte, Natalie, Mila, Sadie, and Gavin Glaser.

Joseph “Joe” was a proud son of Boston. Born in the West End, and raised in Dorchester and Mattapan, he graduated from English High School, and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in History from Boston University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Syracuse University.

Music was a constant in his life. He played both the clarinet and saxophone professionally, joining the American Federation of Musicians and playing his first gig at 13. He worked throughout his high school and college years, playing with the Gene Dennis Orchestra at such iconic venues as the Roseland Ballroom and the Berkshire Country Club. He played in the band at his own high school dance, at the Statler Hilton.

When WWII ended, Joe spent a number of very social months in London, playing in a big band at Covent Garden. Once home, he attended a dance for returning GIs hosted by the Zaslav Society. He met his wife at the dance, showing up at her house the very next day. Both families had immigrated from the same region of Ukraine. They married and eventually settled in West Roxbury, where they raised their family. He and his wife, Marmel, were wonderful dancers, and won cha-cha competitions! In their later years, they enjoyed travel to the Caribbean (Grande Case, Saint Martin), England, France, and numerous Cunard cruises.

Committed to public service and racial equality, Joe believed in the power of government to improve people’s lives. After serving as the leader of the Philadelphia Municipal Research Bureau, Joe returned to first lead the Boston Municipal Research Bureau and then Action for Boston Community Development, Boston’s anti-poverty agency founded in 1961. He was especially proud to launch Boston’s Head Start program. He headed the Urban Affairs Department at Boston University, taught at the University of Massachusetts, and was part of the McCormack Institute. He authored reports and books that addressed housing, fiscal, and adult literacy issues. He worked as a consultant into his eighties.

Like many of his generation, his life was interrupted by World War II. He served as a Corporal in the Army’s Fifth Division, 449th Anti-Aircraft Battalion. His battalion was in D-Day 5 and the Battle of the Bulge. He attended his battalion’s reunions for a number of years and spoke of the incredible bravery and skills of these men. He shared many vivid, heart-rending stories, including memories of liberating Rheims, where the local women opened their blue shutters and shared champagne. His battalion uncovered a mass grave in a town in Czechoslovakia and made the citizens remove and rebury those who had been killed. Joe’s narrative is in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Joseph was very proud of his Jewish roots and culture. He and his family were members of Temple Emeth for decades, and his daughters were Bat Mitzvahed there. He was proud to be a Kohen, the priestly class, and delivered his Bar Mitzvah speech in Yiddish. At his great-grandson’s Bris, just before his 104th birthday, he spoke eloquently about his happiness and pride at his family’s Jewish identity and recalled fondly the exhilarating experience he had as a child davening with his paternal grandfather, who was a Hazzan.

Joseph Slavet was remarkable right up through his early 100s. He was smart and exceptionally articulate (especially for someone who started kindergarten only able to speak Yiddish). He always saw the big picture. He had the ability to appreciate and learn from the rich context of his times. He supported the anti-war movement of the 1960s and his daughter Amy’s involvement. He was proud of his part in building a New Boston, and in leaving a legacy through his children that included a commitment to education, Jewish traditions, and advocacy to make the world a better place. We can’t imagine life without hearing him say: “Let Me Tell You Why That Is.”

A funeral service will be held at Temple Emeth, 194 Grove St., Chestnut Hill on Monday, May 6 at 10:00am.

Following the burial at Temple Emeth Memorial Park, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, shiva will begin at 12:30pm in the Beale Interfaith Chapel at NewBridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Rd., Dedham. Shiva will continue at the individual homes of Amy, Beth and Julie on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Rabbi Karen Landy Discretionary Fund, NewBridge on the Charles, 7000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, MA 02026.