Peter Strauss to Receive the Scarsdale Bowl

This announcement was sent to Scarsdale10583 from the Scarsdale Bowl Committee: Peter Strauss, an extraordinary citizen with over 40 years of dedicated volunteerism to Scarsdale, will be the 2015 recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl, the community's highest award. The Scarsdale Bowl was initiated in 1943 to recognize an individual's outstanding contributions to the civic life of this community," said Jon Mark, the Chairman of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee. Strauss, a former Scarsdale Mayor, has served on over 25 different civic organizations and committees in Scarsdale and beyond. "Peter's civic service in a wide variety of capacities is a role model for volunteerism in the Village. His selfless contribution of time and energy to community affairs epitomizes the principles symbolized by the Bowl. We are delighted to recognize him as this year's honoree", said Mark.

Strauss will be honored at the Scarsdale Bowl dinner on Wednesday evening, April 22 at The Fountainhead in New Rochelle. Mark encourages all members of the community to attend and notes that the event is uplifting evening to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism in our Village. Scarsdale residents may receive a written invitation by emailing scarbowl@gmail.com.

The Bowl Committee, a diverse group of 15 community volunteers, selects the recipient after reviewing many worthy candidates who are nominated by the community.

Last Sunday evening, the Committee voted to honor Strauss. Delegates from the Bowl Committee including Chairman Jon Mark, Scarsdale Foundation President Evelyn Stock, Foundation Liaison Jane Veron, Foundation Secretary/Treasurer Robert Jeremiah and Committee Members Nan Berke, Kay Eisenman and Michelle Lichtenberg went to Peter's Greenacres home to break the good news. No one was home when the group arrived, so Lichtenberg called a mutual friend to innocently inquire as to Peter's whereabouts. As the phone conversation ended, the group began to disperse but then Peter's car drove down Brite Avenue and turned into his driveway. "It was dark and we couldn't imagine who you were", Laura Strauss, Peter's wife, told the group. Upon hearing the news Strauss said, "I am almost speechless, and I am never almost speechless. This is quite an honor".

Strauss has a long distinguished record of service to Scarsdale and the outside community. Currently Strauss is Treasurer of Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, serves on the Board of Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling, and is a volunteer at White Plains Hospital.

Peter was Mayor from 2005 to 2007 and a Village Trustee from 2001 to 2005. Among his many achievements as mayor, Strauss is proud of his role in the development of Christie Place, installing larger and more legible Scarsdale street signs and working towards a new headquarters for the Ambulance Corp. He loved being Police Commissioner while Deputy Mayor, getting to know the policemen personally and occasionally riding with them while on duty. Upon Peter's retirement as mayor the late Irving Sloan described Strauss as "the gold standard of local government" and former mayor Ed Morgan praised Peter's "openness of process and strong emphasis on civil dialogue".

Strauss is a long-time champion of land use issues. He worked on many seminal development issues in Scarsdale including Christie Place, the Community Center and SVAC. He was co-chair of the Advisory Committee on Downtown Development. He also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Scarsdale Forum's Zoning and Planning Committee.

A consensus builder and someone deeply connected to the betterment of all, Strauss has served as Chairman of the Village's Advisory Council on Human Relations. He was involved with establishing the home for the developmentally disabled on Foxhall Road.

A firm believer in Scarsdale's non-partisan system, Strauss has served as a member of the Procedure Committee. He also served as Chairman of the School Board Nominating Committee and as co-chairman of the Citizens' for Scarsdale Non-Partisan Government.

Peter has also focused considerable volunteer effort beyond Scarsdale's borders. He served as Vice Chair, National Director and NY Regional Chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, was a Director of the Greater NY Council of the Boy Scouts of America, was Westchester Chapter President of the American Jewish Committee, and was a member of the Ellis Island Museum Rededication Committee. He received the Hiram Hunn Award from the Harvard Admissions Office in 2007 for outstanding longtime service in recruiting and interviewing students from New York City. He has also served as his Class Secretary to Harvard Business School for over fifty years.

Peter immigrated to the United States from Germany at age 3 and grew up in Hartford CT, and Lancaster PA. He received his BA and MBA from Harvard. After four years in the ROTC program he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Artillery. He is the retired President of Geska Management Co., Inc.

Peter's greatest joy is his family. He and his wife Laura have been married 52 years and have two daughters. His older daughter Carolyn lives in Hollywood , California and is Executive Producer of the television show Game of Thrones. Diana lives in Brunswick, Maine and is a location consultant for companies seeking Maine locations and backgrounds for their advertising. The Strauss' have three grandchildren, ages 11, 6 and 4.

Please join the Bowl Committee on April 22nd at The Fountainhead to honor Scarsdale's spirit of volunteerism and Peter Strauss.