Cantor Marshall M. Glatzer, 94, passed away on Sunday April 4, 2021.
Born in New York City, Cantor Glatzer was a former resident of Yardley, PA for over fifty years. He attended the High School of Music and Art, studied at the Dalcroze School of Music, CCNY, and also took courses at Trenton State College and Rider College. He studied voice and piano with several of the leading teachers in New York. Cantor Glatzer served in the US Navy Hospital Corps during World War II and was for 17 years a faculty member of the School of Sacred Music. He is a past president of the American Conference of Cantors and is listed in “Who’s Who in World Jewry” and “Who’s Who in Eastern United States.”
Cantor Glatzer began his singing career at 9 years old in his grandfather’s choir. He also sang over radio station WMCA on a children’s hour program on several occasions. While in high school he was a member of the prestigious All-City High School Chorus and later of the Collegiate Chorale and Dessoff Choirs in New York. Cantor appeared on various radio, TV and opera programs in the New York area as well as with the Grand Rapids Light Opera Company in Michigan. He was guest soloist with the Trenton State College Chorus, Rider College Chorus, Mercer County Chorus, Trenton Symphony and presented many concert and lecture recitals. His portrayal as “Tevye” in Har Sinai Temple’s production of “Fiddler On The Roof” is memorable.
Cantor Glatzer came to Har Sinai Temple as its first cantor in 1953 following his investiture at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. During his active tenure as cantor, he was instrumental in developing an outstanding children’s choir and adult volunteer choir. He trained more than 800 B’nai Mitzvah and participated in so many family events in the lives of his congregants. For health reasons, Cantor Glatzer retired from Har Sinai in 1987 and was given the title of Cantor Emeritus.
He was a long-time faculty member of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute or Religion, training the next generation of cantors. In 1998, Cantor Glatzer was honored with the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa, as HUC-JIR celebrated its 50th anniversary. Cantor Glatzer was one of the first cantors in the nation to receive this honor, given in recognition of a lifetime of service to the Jewish people. He was a founding member and served as president of the American Conference of Cantors.
Husband of the late Ann Glatzer and Roberta Glatzer, he is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law Judith and Dr. Richard Gordon, Lisa and David Shenson, his son and daughter-in-law Robert and Virginia Glatzer, and his six grandchildren Shoshana and Daniel Gordon, Jared and Cara Shenson, Laura and Gregory Glatzer.
A private graveside funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 for immediate family members. A Shiva service will be held at the Gordon residence in Yardley, PA on Wednesday at 6:45pm EST outside and socially distanced, or via Zoom for those who wish to participate remotely, link below:
Zoom link for Shiva. Capacity is 100 participants.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83241990922
Shiva is organized by the family (not the funeral home) please contact the Gordon family with any questions.
The family respectfully requests memorial contributions to be made to the American Conference of Cantors ACC Convention Scholarship Fund at: https://www.accantors.org/support-acc
So sorry to hear Cantor Glatzer has passed away. He was an inspiring figure for so many of us . We miss his learning and benign presence.
Cantor Glatzer married my husband and me in 1964. Peter loved his voice. May he rest in peace.
Joyce Heisen
Such a wonderful, sweet man. Talented, wry sense of humor, always with a smile. His memory is a blessing.
A wonderful, very kind man. I prepared my bar mitvah with him (May 1965) and sang in the chorus for many years. I have very fond memories, also of his magnificent voice.
He was an important part of my life as a young teenager. In 1960 he coached me through my Bar Mitzvah (I still remember some of the chanting.) and taught our confirmation class where he led us in a cantata for the ceremony. He was a leader to us all when I went through Sunday school (and Saturday school) as well as when I became an assistant teacher in the Sunday school. He always seemed to have a smile on his face. May his memory be a blessing.
Judy, Lisa, Robert & Family, I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Marshall. Obviously, he was family to the Rosenberg’s! He lived a long life filled with accomplishments and was fortunate to always be surrounded by the love of his family. His rendition of Avinu Malkeinu is my favorite of all time and I have visions of him belting out the song as he is walking through Har Sinai( Kol Nidre wasn’t bad either ). I will remember him fondly and my thoughts are with all of you. May his memory be for a blessing. Love, David
To Marshall’s family. Am sorry to hear of his passing. He & Anne made this very young wife of the newly hired assistant Rabbi welcome to the community 60 years ago.
My condolences to you all.
Lila Rosenthal
Mashall Glatzer was a wonderful Cantor, a fine musician, a good neighbor, and my favorite Tevye.
We all have memories to cherish.
May his memory always be a blessing and inspiration. He was one of my teachers at the School of Sacred Music and always a warm, supportive person to me. Barbara and I were always happy to see him and he always seemed happy to see us. We send our condolences to all in his family.
Marc and I are very sorry to hear about Marshall’s passing. We are grateful to have been in his life for so many years. I personally loved and will always remember our many conversations, smiles and laughs. He will be missed very much. Our deepest condolences to the family.
He was an extraordinarily gifted cantor and a wonderful friend to my parents (Harriet & Sherman Gould). He co-officiated at my wedding. May his memory always be for a blessing.
Marshall was one of my favorite teachers while I was a Cantorial Student at Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music. He was also a fellow President of the American Conference of Cantors. May his memory of this righteous man be a blessing. Zeicher tzadik livracho.
We were so very sorry to hear about Cantor Glatzer’s passing. What a kind, wonderful man! We were honored to have had an aliyah the last time he chanted from the Torah at Har Sinai on the High Holidays. May his memory always be a blessing.
We are so sorry to hear of Cantor Glatzer’s passing. He was an important part of Martin and his brother’s Philip’s religious education. Cantor and his wife Ann were friends of Martin’s parents, Bernice and Eugene Kline and very close friends of his uncle, Joe and Rose Kline. Cantor Glatzer helped officiate at our wedding and we always enjoyed hearing him chant during the High Holidays.
Cantor Glatzer, Neim Z’mirot Yisrael (The Sweet singer of Israel,) was and always will be an inspiration to generations of cantors, who were touched by him in so many ways.
In the short time I had the privilege of knowing him, I too fell under his spell.
May the cherished memories you have of him help you in this difficult time.
Cantor Glatzer was a very special man. He was my Cantor for my entire growing up years. He tutorted me for my Bat Mitzvah, adised me throughout my time at Har Sinai. He married Mark and I. When we visited with him prior to getting married, he aksed us to write a letter to the other explaining why we loved one another. This was very special. We still have those letters we wrote 30 years ago. My memories are many, they are happy and meaningful. I send my condolences to the Glatzer Family. Thinking of all of you
It really saddens me to learn of Cantor Glatzer’s passing- I wish his family the best at this difficult time. Cantor Glatzer truly was a Har Sinai legend. He trained my father, Albert B. Kahn, Jr., for his Bar Mitzvah, which took place in 1959. He also shepherded his three younger brothers, my uncles Ed, Billy, and Joe, through the process. Cantor Glatzer had already retired by the time my big day came around, but my wife Katy and I got to know him and his wife in their later years at the Oneg Shabbats after Friday night services. They were just the sweetest people. I remember when he dedicated the massive new mezuzah that adorns the entryway to the new chapel in the Pennington building- we got to hear the old master sing that night.