George Glanzberg

George Glanzberg, husband, father, grandfather, and lover of all creatures large and small died on Tuesday, October 10.  He was 88 years old. Born in Brooklyn NY, he was the son of Francis and Sidney Glanzberg and younger brother of Jerome.

When George was a teenager his family moved to Teaneck NJ where he attended high school and worked for a local veterinarian. He then attended Wharton School of Business and went to work at his family’s trucking company in NJ. He met and married his roommate's kid sister, Gail Pulver, on July 4th 1960 and they began a 63 year journey together.

At 35 years old, longing for a better way of life, George left the world of business to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. He and his family, by now including 4 small children, moved to Philadelphia where he attended University of Pennsylvania veterinary school. After graduation they all moved to Bennington Vermont. He opened a small animal practice a few feet from his home and never looked back. He loved his work and felt extremely privileged to be able to help so many animals and their people. He was always happy to go to work until retiring 47 years later at 80 years old.

Over the years he saw many people struggling to pay for their pets care. Upon retiring George began Help-a-Pet to address this problem. He, his wife and assistants provided a free clinic where  people in need could bring their pets for care. They created a 501c fund to cover the cost of medications and supplies and volunteered their time so that no money was needed from the families. Help-a-Pet operated every second Sunday until Covid began.

George was an avid vegetable gardener. When he was not at work he could be found tending his garden regardless of the weather, fishing in his pond or tending his animals, often with children or grandchildren in tow. He read voraciously, mostly history and biographies and  was a spinner of magical tales beloved by all his family.  He was always surrounded by animals, even a pet cow.

More than anything he was devoted to his family. His children Fred Glanzberg, Deborah Glanzberg-Krainin and her husband David, Paula Glanzberg-Glazier and her husband Steve, Michael Glanzberg and his late wife Ching-I were the light of his life. His grandchildren Eliana, Klielle, Noam, Eve, Ari and Max brought him so much joy. And of course Gail, his love for 63 years.

In 2021 George and Gail said good bye to their beloved home in Vermont. They moved to the  Philadelphia area to be closer to  their daughters.

He died 2 years later after a long struggle with myasthenia gravis.  The funeral service will take place privately on Friday, October 13^th. 

Shiva will be held at the home of Rabbis Deborah and David Glanzberg-Krainin on Saturday evening, October 14^th from 7:00pm – 9:00pm with a minyan at 7:30pm; and Monday, October 16^th and Tuesday, October 17^th from 1:00pm- 4:00pm and from 7:00pm- 9:00pm with minyanim at 7:30pm.

Contributions in George’s memory can be made to Pets Of The Homeless (petsofthehomeless.org) or Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action (dayenu.org)

Condolences can be sent to Gail Glanzberg 1315 Washington Lane Meadowbrook PA 19046