It is with great sadness that I report the death of Howard Radest, our founding leader, a personal colleague and mentor and member of the Bergen Society. Howard died last Saturday evening [Oct. 11, 2014] after a period of decline. He was 86 years old.
A MEMORIAL HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15TH AT 10:00 AM AT THE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE.
Howard lived a life of humanism. He served as Bergen’s first full-time leader from 1956 to 1963. He was an Executive Director of the American Ethical Union, Director of the Ethical Culture Schools, a president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, a founder and first Dean of the Humanist Institute, the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jersey City Ethical Charter School, a historian of the Ethical Movement, having authored “Toward Common Ground,” as well as several other volumes related to Ethical Culture and Humanism.
Perhaps no other person has made a greater contribution to building and sustaining institutions within Ethical Culture and the Humanist world over the past half century as did Howard. He was a rare combination of visionary and institutionalist, and all of us who cherish Ethical Culture are incalculably in his debt.
Howard leaves behind his wife, Rita, his sons, Robert and Michael, and several grandchildren.
— a message from our Leader Joe Chuman
