Hollander, Bernard Rich

Bernard R. Hollander was a Cleveland, Ohio attorney well-known during his lifetime for his leadership in many Jewish organizations. Born in Cleveland in 1927, Hollander grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, graduated from Heights High School in 1944, and enlisted in the United States army. Under the Army Specialized Training Program, Hollander attended West Virginia University and A. & M. College of Texas. Following his discharge in 1946, he completed his B.A. and law degrees at Western Reserve University. Hollander was admitted to the bar in 1951 and employed by Ulmer, Berne, Gordon & Glickman until 1953 when he organized his own firm under the name of Hollander, Zelman & Gold, subsequently Hollander, Gold & Baron. In 1966 he became a partner in Rocker, Kahn, Kleinman, Yanowitz & Annan.

Hollander's life-long involvement in the Anshe Chesed Congregation began as an honor student at the Euclid Avenue Temple Religious School. During the 1950's and 1960's, he was an officer of the Men's Club, serving as president from 1962 to 1964. In 1964 he was elected to the Fairmount Temple Board of Trustees. His service on the Board of Trustees continued through 1975, when he was elected vice president.

Aside from Fairmount Temple, Hollander was most active in the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods, serving on the NFTB Executive Board from 1966 through 1975. Hollander was instrumental in establishing a Jewish Chautauqua Society resident lectureship on Judaism at John Carroll University; after his death the lectureship was permanently endowed in his memory. For many years Hollander chaired College Jewish Youth Corps-- established by the committee. The Hollander family was committed to making Judaism relevant to young people. They wrote and performed creative service on the Board of Trustees continued through 1975, when he was elected vice president.

Among many other organizational activities, Hollander served as marshal of the Golden Square Masonic Lodge in 1953 and as a director of the B'Nai B'rith Shaker Lodge when it was organized in 1967. He assisted in the establishment of Akiva High School that same year, and was president of the United Jewish Religious Schools from 1970 to 1973.

Hollander was a well-known amateur-singer, performing in numerous musical and dramatic programs, including the City Club Anvil Revue. He died in 1975.

From the guide to the Bernard Rich Hollander Papers, 1894-1976, (Western Reserve Historical Society)