Obituary of Richard Allen Hanft

Honorable Richard A. Hanft age 68 of Troy, New York died on Friday, February 6, 2015 at the Albany Medical Center. Richard was born in Brooklyn, NY and later moved to Rockville Center, NY. He graduated Southside High School in 1964. He later graduated from the University of Rochester, class of 1968 and the Albany Law School in 1971.Richard was an attorney and was associated for many years with the law firm of Lee. LeForestier and Hanft, PC. Richard was active with the Rensselaer County Democratic Party. He served as a judge for Rensselaer County Family Court. At the time of his passing Richard was associated with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. He served on the board of trustees for SUNY Albany from 1977 until 2003 Richard was a member of Temple Beth El in Troy, as well as the Rensselaer County and New York State Bar Associations. He was also active in Brunswick soccer and the Tamarac Booster Club. He was an avid sports fan and was a season ticket holder for University of Albany sporting events as well as a season ticket hold for the University of Michigan Football team. He was a fan of both men and women basketball at SUNY Albany.Richard spent his summers at Camp Scatico in Elizaville, NY where he served as a camper as well as a counselor. Richard is survived by his Mother, Beatrice Glucksman, his children, Sara Salitan- Thiell and her husband Aaron Thiell, Michael Hanft and his fiancée, Dr. Kara Willenburg and Caren Kotlow and her husband Andrew Kotlow.Grandfather of Chava and Micah Thiell, Sophia and Alexis Kotlow Brother of Steven Hanft and his wife, Annelie Struessmann He was predeceased by his father, Alfred Jacob Hanft in 1988. Services at Congregation Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Road in Albany, NY on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 2:00pm Interment will follow services in the Beth El Cemetery on Belle Avenue in Troy, New York Memorial contributions may be made to the Peter Goldberg Memorial Fellowship at the University of California, Greater Good Science Center 2425 Atherton Street Berkeley, California 94720 or the Hadassah University Medical Center, PO Box 12000 Jerusalem, Israel 91120.or a charity of one’s choice. The period of mourning will be observed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the home of Caren and Andrew Kotlow, 11 Arbor Drive in Slingerlands, NY from 6:30-8:30pm and on Sunday at the home of Beatrice Glucksman, 100 White Pine Drive Apartment 128 in Albany from 3-5pm. (Avila Community).