WPCNR MILESTONES. From the Masback Family. June 20, 2009: Harold E. Masback, Jr., 82, a long-time White Plains resident, automobile leasing executive, public servant, and former White Plains City Councilman, died June 17 at his home in White Plains. He had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Hal Masback, 1970, about the time he was elected to the Common Council as the first Democrat to hold a Common Councilship. Services will be held for Mr. Masback at 11 A.M. Monday morning at the Chapel in the Woods, Temple Kol-Ami, White Plains. Photo, from the Masbach Family Collection.
Born July 16, 1926 in Manhattan, NY, “Hal” Masback was a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology. His tenure at Georgia Tech was interrupted by his service in the United States Navy in World War II, from 1944-1946. During the war, Masback served as an aerial gunnery instructor and played for the All-Navy Baseball team, replacing Stan Musial at first base for the East Coast squad. Upon his return to Georgia Tech, Masback managed the Cross Country and Track & Field Teams, an experience that presaged a long and distinguished career organizing track and field championships such as the Women’s AAU Championships, and the Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Games, officiating at West Point and the Millrose Games, among many others.
After graduating from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management, he joined his family’s business, Masback Hardware, then the largest wholesale hardware distributor on the East Coast. He went on to found and lead businesses engaged in lawn and garden equipment, recreational equipment and motorcycles, and automobile leasing.
Hal Masback served his community in many different capacities. In 1964, he helped found White Plains Boy’s Baseball, serving as its first Chair and President for over six years. He was appointed to the Mayor’s Recreation Advisory Committee in 1966, and was one of the founders of the White Plains Touchdown Club.
In 1969 he and a fellow Democrat were elected to the White Plains Common Council, the first of that party to be elected to any office in the history of the city. He subsequently ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of White Plains.
He was instrumental in the founding of the White Plains Youth Bureau, and remained engaged with that organization continuously throughout his life. In 1999, he was appointed to serve on the board of the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District, and recently served on the WESTHAB Committee for homeless families and as the President of the White Plains Exchange Club. For his service, he was the recipient of numerous civic honors.
Hal’s first marriage to the former Iris E. Alford ended in divorce. Masback subsequently married Caral Rosenbaum and they resided in White Plains, operating Caraleasing, Inc. together until his death.
Survivors include his wife, Caral Rosenbaum Masback; three sons, Harold E. Masback III of New Canaan, CT, Craig Masback of Portland, OR, and Keith Masback of Alexandria, VA and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 11:00 am at The Chapel in the Woods, Congregation Kol Ami located at 252 Soundview Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606. Interment will follow at the White Plains Rural Cemetery, 167 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Harold E. Masback, Jr. Youth Recreation Scholarship Trust, 85 Gedney Way White Plains, NY 10605
Note: Important: The Memorial Service for Mr. Masback will be held Monday, June 22, tomorrow at 11 A.M. at Kol Ami in White Plains, Chapel in the Woods, not June 29 as first reported.
