Peter Strauss Honored at 2015 Scarsdale Bowl Dinner
- Thursday, 23 April 2015 15:13
- Last Updated: Friday, 24 April 2015 07:58
- Published: Thursday, 23 April 2015 15:13
- Joanne Wallenstein
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Mayor Jon Mark Gives Peter Strauss the Scarsdale Bowl
Strauss served as Mayor of Scarsdale from 2005-7 and Village Trustee from 2001-5. He is proud of his role in developing downtown Scarsdale, installing more legible street signs and working on the new headquarters for the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps. He served on the Zoning Board of Appeals, chaired the Village Advisory Council on Human Relations, on the Procedure Committee and is a firm believer in the non-partisan system. A tribute from Carl Pforzheimer III
Held on April 22 at the Fountainhead in New Rochelle, the event was led by Scarsdale Bowl Committee Chair, and now newly-elected Scarsdale Mayor Jon Mark. He greeted guests by recognizing Strauss's extraordinary service and acknowledging all the attendees who "make Scarsdale the exceptional community that it is." He thanked the Bowl Committee for their work and named the recipients of the former Bowl winners who were in attendance at the event. He singled out Jane Veron who served on the Bowl Committee and also as the liaison to the Scarsdale Foundation for going "above and beyond." He also noted the contributions of Bowl Treasurer Robert Jeremiah, Foundation President Evelyn Stock and last year's Bowl Chair David Brodsky.
Evelyn Stock extolled the health benefits of volunteering
She noted that Strauss' many volunteer commitments extend beyond on Scarsdale. On a recent visit to the White Plains Hospital emergency room she spotted Strauss, who volunteers there, and brought her lunch.
Stock then extolled the benefits of volunteering telling the room, "You know it is now okay to have chocolate, Peter with Daughter Carolyn, Executive Producer of Game of Thrones
Grandaughters Ruby Rose and Gemma Grace Laura Strauss and Ruby Rose
Laura Strauss has been married to Peter for 52 years and described him as "20% small town American" with the balance distinctly German. Struass immigrated to the United States from Germany when he was 7 years old. She noted his work ethic, persistence and optimism and said he was devoted to family, even keeping a photo of his "mother-in-law on his desk." He was an involved dad and coach to their two daughters who attended the dinner with their children. Carolyn Strauss travelled from California where she is the Executive Producer of the hit television series Game of Thrones, and many fans stopped by her table to meet and greet her and her son Owen. Younger daughter Diana drove down from Brunswick Maine with her husband Kevin and two adorable daughters, Ruby Rose, 6 and Gemma Grace 4. Laura noted that Owen, now 12, was given an assignment to write a paper about his hero. He chose his Grandapa a Peter, and said that he was "kind and generous" and added that she agrees.
Lifelong friend and Scarsdale resident Victor Goldberg remembered delicious dinners at the Strauss home with a "seemingly limitless bar." He laughed about driving home after an evening of Peter's mixology and marveled that The Scarsdale Rotary contributed $4,200 to the Scarsdale Foundation
After a slow to emerge dinner and a long night of tributes Strauss took the stage to receive the bowl from Jon Mark and make his remarks. He told the group that his family came to America 79 years ago from Germany when his parents, ages 37 and 31 sought a better life for their family. A Scarsdale resident for 49 years, he said that Bowl Committee greeted guests
He said that we must work hard to generate quality volunteerism to preserve the "positive aspects of our special community." He thanked everyone for honoring him with the Scarsdale Bowl and for coming out to recognize him. Trustee Carl Finger and Eve Finger Former Police Chief John Brogan and Trustee Matt Callaghan County Legislator Ben Boykin with Trustee Deb Pekarek Village Manager Al Gatta and former Trustee David Buchen Elizabeth Bermel, Terri Simon and Suzanne Seiden Zachary and Heather Harrison Michelle Lichtenberg, Anne Lyons and Jennifer Gruenberg Former winners of the Scarsdale Bowl