Ben Hersh remembered: Reprinted from the North County News Archives

Over the weekend, we lost Ben Hersh, a true cornerstone of our congregation.
In his Honor, this blogger located and has reprinted the article written about Ben Hersh's 90th birthday, exactly as it was written in the North County News.

To the family and friend of Ben Hersh, I express my condolences.





"Peekskill attorney Ben Hersh celebrates milestone
Governor George Pataki was on hand for the festivities and took time to pose with members of the Hersh family.
by Lisa Trapasso A 90th birthday celebration was held Sunday in honor of Benjamin B. Hersh, a well-respected attorney and “pillar of the community” in Peekskill. Family members, friends and political dignitaries, including Governor George Pataki, attended the service and breakfast held at the First Hebrew Congregation’s downtown synagogue on Main Street in Peekskill.Synagogue board members Jeff and David Feldman organized the event. Jeff Feldman described Hersh as being “like family.” During the service, Westchester County Legislator George Oros (R/Cortlandt) read a proclamation declaring December 21 Benjamin B. Hersh Day in Westchester County. Oros praised Hersh for his many achievements and generosity. “He is the secret to what long life is,” Oros said. “Instead of taking something out of life, he is looking to give.” Hersh was born December 17, 1913 in Brooklyn and later moved to Peekskill with his parents and siblings. At the age of 11, he began attending Hebrew school at the Main Street synagogue and celebrated his Bar Mitzvah there two years later. Hersh attended Peekskill public schools and graduated from Peekskill High School. He then attended New York University, where he received his law degree. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1939. He began his law career during the Depression at Peekskill’s leading law firm, Pines and Sterling. After his second year with the firm, he was advised his salary would be reduced from $10 a week to $5, his starting salary. He then opened his own office at 1010 Park Street in Peekskill, where he practiced for many years.In 1970, he purchased the old County Trust Bank building located at 2 South Division Street, where he still maintains his practice today with his son, Robert. “I go to the office every morning,” he said. Over the years, Hersh retained his membership and activities with the First Hebrew Congregation and it became apparent a larger facility would be needed to accommodate the growing Jewish population in the area. He was instrumental in acquiring the property on East Main Street that would eventually become the site of the congregation’s uptown synagogue center. He became the chairman of the building committee and raised funds to make the new synagogue a reality 45 years ago. “He foresaw the future of having a synagogue on East Main Street,” said Anita Hersh, his wife of 57 years. Hersh eventually served three terms as president of the First Hebrew Congregation.He has had a successful legal career and has served the community in various capacities. He was counsel to the Peekskill Hospital, now known as Hudson Valley Hospital Center, and the Lake Mohegan Fire District. He was elected to the board of directors of the Westchester County National Bank and was a trustee of the Security Title Company, a real estate title insurance company in White Plains. He was also a director of the YWCA as well as a board member of the Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill for many years. He was a public prosecutor for the city of Peekskill during the 1960s and 1970s and became a closing attorney for the Chase Manhattan Bank of Northern Westchester in 1966. Described as a “lawyer’s lawyer” and “one of the finest trial attorneys in the county of Westchester,” Hersh also engaged in a substantial amount of pro bono work for those unable to afford legal services. Pataki lauded Hersh as a “great, great man” and “great family friend.” “We’re proud that our family has been so close to Ben and all the Hershes for so many years,” he said. Hersh gave Pataki his first law job clerking in his office while he attended Columbia Law School. Hersh had represented Pataki’s father and grandfather. The governor’s mother, Margaret “Peggy” Pataki, also attended Sunday’s celebration. Practicing law is a tradition in the Hersh family. Hersh’s brothers, Frederick and Jerome, also became lawyers. His two sons, Philip and Robert, followed, as did three nephews, Eric, Scot and John. All practice in separate offices along Park Street in Peekskill. Philip Hersh described his father as a “monument in the city of Peekskill” who “was able to touch the lives of many people in our community. “The outpouring of support is just a small tribute to my dad’s many accomplishments. There’s no doubt that he’s touched the lives of everybody in this room,” he said. Anita Hersh summed up the family’s feelings on her husband’s special day.“Today was a beautiful tribute to Benjamin,” she said. "