Harshman Award Highlights Sniderman’s Leadership
Howard Sniderman is this year’s recipient of the Abe Harshman Leadership Award, which is given annually to recognize an individual’s leadership and service to the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation and its agencies.
Born and raised in Youngstown, Howard graduated from the Rayen High School. He returned to the area after attending two years at Ohio State and began working in the family business, Steel City Milling Co. His volunteer experience began as a basketball coach at the Jewish Community Center, coaching 10 and 11-year old boys. Irv Marks sparked Howard’s interest in the JCC, and soon he was serving on the JCC board, as well as the Temple El Emeth board. He served on both boards for close to 50 years. Howard was an assistant chef at Children of Israel, making breakfast every Sunday and chili once a year for their fundraiser. Next to Mervyn Hollander, he was the top sales person, peddling the chili as he was pedaling his bike at the JCC. By the way, he is still peddling his bike at the J every day– same time every day!
For years he helped place flags on the graves of Jewish veterans. Then one day he was asked to be the Jewish War Vets representative for Mahoning County. He was now responsible for retrieving and delivering over 500 flags to area synagogues. Volunteers from each synagogue then assisted him in distributing the flags to the cemeteries and decorating the appropriate gravesite. Howard held this role for 25 years, relinquishing it to Art Einzig with the founding of the Youngstown Area Jewish Cemeteries Association. He said this was a highlight of his volunteer career.
Howard was a regular at Heritage Manor, assisting his wife, Linda, with the biography project and delivering flowers from the flower cart one Saturday a month. He could also be found flipping something on the grill or singing karaoke at Levy Gardens when Ronna Marlin, then activities coordinator, would call.
Howard didn’t limit his volunteering to Jewish organizations and Federation agencies. In the mid 1980s he helped establish the Challenger Baseball League. He took great pride in giving the mentally and physically challenged an opportunity to participate in a team sport. This experience and connection with these young adults and their parents was one of the highlights of his volunteerism. He also volunteered at the Special Olympics in Columbus. Howard volunteered once a week at Second Harvest Food Bank, tutored first and second graders at E.J. Blott Elementary School, and presently helps out once a month at Church Hill United Methodist Church in Liberty. Howard and his friend, Bert Newman, delivered Mobile Meals twice a month for many, many years through sleet and snow and rain and shine. They just retired, at their wives’ request. Howard Sniderman says he’s always considered himself a soldier rather than a general. As you can see, his volunteer activities clearly show he was a general when the need arose.