NEW YORK, March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, mourns the
passing of its former Los Angeles
director, Neil Sandberg. He was 92
years old.
"For decades, Neil Sandberg was
both an exemplary leader of our Los
Angeles region, and a pioneering visionary. As one notable
example, he initiated our diplomatic outreach to key nations in the
Asia Pacific region that today are
central to AJC's global diplomacy," said AJC CEO David Harris. "He was also my cherished
friend."
Sandberg first joined the AJC staff in 1950 as a fundraiser, and
in 1962 was named director of the AJC Los Angeles region. He became
AJC Western Region Director in 1968. Sandberg was the founding
director of the AJC Pacific Rim Institute (APRI) in 1989, which
later was renamed the Asia Pacific Institute (API), the first of
its kind in the American Jewish community. Over the past 30 years,
AJC leaders have traveled regularly with API to China, Japan,
South Korea, and other countries
in the region.
After retiring from AJC in 1990, Sandberg remained fully engaged
in the work he pioneered as a consultant and visited Pacific Rim countries, especially Japan, for AJC numerous times.
In October 2013, Sandberg was
honored by the Martin Gang Institute, a shared venture of AJC Los
Angeles and Loyola Marymount
University, for his pioneering leadership in promoting
mutual understanding and dialogue between religious and ethnic
communities in Southern
California.
"Neil was the consummate professional, my mentor, my friend,"
said AJC Honorary President Bruce
Ramer, who lives in Los
Angeles. "Neil made a difference. He led without looking
over his shoulder, as he knew he would be followed. He was
respected and admired throughout the community, both general and
Jewish. Beloved by all, he will be remembered, treasured, and
missed."
In Los Angeles, Sandberg was
very active in interreligious and intergroup relations. He received
the Dr. Max W. Bay Memorial Award
from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Southern
California Region.
He also taught several courses at Loyola
Marymount University and authored a number of books,
including "Ethnic Identity and Assimilation: The Polish-American
Community, Case Study of Metropolitan Los Angeles" (1974) and
"Jewish Life in Los Angeles"
(1986).
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-mourns-passing-of-former-los-angeles-director-neil-sandberg-300613418.html
SOURCE American Jewish Committee