Longtime Roslyn resident Gloria Klar, a major figure in the booming postwar world of Long Island real estate, recently died at her home in Tamarac, FL. She was 93.
A native of Brooklyn, Klar and her husband, Henry, moved to Roslyn from East Meadow in 1952. There, the couple raised their three children, while Klar also assisted her husband in the success of Henry A. Klar Realty, which helped to market housing sales for tens of thousands returning World War II veterans. In the early 1980s, Klar moved to Florida, where she lived for 36 years.
“She was an exceptional woman who led a full life with many diverse interests, from art to golf, to friends and family,” said her son, Steven, in a letter to The Roslyn News.
“Gloria was a noted sculptor and teacher of art, who traveled extensively for many years as Art Director on cruise ships,” he added. “She was active in many charitable causes and was a founder of Temple Emanuel in East Meadow.”
During his 28-year tenure from 1947 to 1975, Henry Klar was responsible for over 40,000 home sales, primarily on Long Island. As important, Henry and Gloria Klar worked with Alfred Levitt of Levittown fame to move buyers into their home. When Henry Klar died in 2004, The Roslyn News noted that “the many thousands of homes built by Levitt House had Mr. Klar’s unique ability of helping the buyers move into their new homes as easily as possible.”
Gloria Klar’s funeral took place at Star of David and internment took place at Mount Ararat cemetery.
She is survived by her three sons, Lester, Ronald and Steven; two daughters-in-laws, Deborah and Kathleen; three grandchildren, Laura, Jennifer and Ashton and a great granddaughter, Juliet. Donations may be made to Women’s American ORT or UJA Federation of New York.
