Lester Brauser
If anyone's name in Bradford was ever synonymous
with "theatre," it was Lester Brauser. Brauser embodied the spirit of what
theatre is all about: the joy of participating, of telling stories, of
having fun.
A long-time participant in Bradford community theatre with the Seneca Highland
Players, BCPAC, Kiwanis Kapers, and others, Brauser appeared in more than
100 local productions. In 1991, he became the first individual to be presented
with the prestigious BRAVO! Award from the Bradford Creative and Performing
Arts Center.
Besides appearing onstage, Brauser served
in various technical capacities--directing, producing, and stage managing.
He also financially supported local arts organizations.
Born in June, 1916, Lester Brauser graduated
from Bradford High School in 1934. After earning a degree from the University
of Michigan, where he also studied law, Brauser served in the U.S. Coast
Guard during World War Two, rising to the rank of lieutenant.
In 1943, Brauser married Miriam H. Avrutky.
They went on to have two sons, Joseph and Harry, and four grandchildren.
Following his honorable discharge after the
war, Brauser went to work in the store his father founded, where he worked
until his death in October of 1999. Aside from being a prominent businessman
and civic leader, Brauser was president of the B'nai B'rith and served
on the board of Temple Beth El.
Brauser's appearances on stage entertained
thousands of individuals and enriched Bradford as a community. It's only
fitting, then, that BLT honor those people who carry on in Brauser's spirit,
making Bradford a better place to live.
(In the Photo: Lester hams it up, circa the 1960s, for a Seneca Highland
Players production.) |
