Abner Bregman, 53, president of United Hias Service, died today at his home in White Plains following a short illness.
Mr. Bregman was a world leader in Jewish relief, rescue and resettlement work. On May 14 he was presented with a scroll of honor at a testimonial dinner in recognition of his more than two decades of outstanding service to United HIAS, Joint Distribution Committee and United Jewish Appeal.
In 1935 when events in Germany presented world Jewry with a challenging refugee problem, Mr. Bregman joined the board of directors of JDC. He was elected associate treasurer of JDC in 1937. Later, he was one of the founders of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York. In 1950 he was elected to the board of United Service for New Americans. In 1954 when USNA was merged with Hias and the immigration department of JDC to form United Hias, he joined the board of directors. Last February, he was elected president of United Hias.
A major in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, Mr. Bregman was considered a top leader in Jewish philanthropic endeavors. Until the last day of his life Mr. Bregman continued to guide the agency, despite his illness.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
