The Upper Holmesburg Civic Association paid tribute to a recently deceased board member during the civic group’s monthly general meeting on Sept. 15.
As reported in the Sept. 1 editions of the Northeast Times, 78-year-old Paul Kauffman died of natural causes on Aug. 22. He was a founding board member of the UHCA, as well as a leading advocate for, and volunteer caretaker of, the Trumbette Playground at Torresdale Avenue and Tolbut Street.
“Paul loved kids, and everything he wanted to do was for kids. And he loved the community and (worked for) it as long as he could,” said Bob Hall, a fellow UHCA board member and close friend of Kauffman’s.
When the long-idle civic association re-formed about seven years ago, Kauffman was one of the early members and took a leadership role. He and Hall met civic leaders from other areas of the Northeast to observe their organizations and promote solidarity among the neighborhoods.
“We traveled around to many civic associations,” Hall said.
Fred Moore, president of the Holmesburg Civic Association, said he first met Kauffman in the early 1970s when they worked for the same company — Moore as a shop supervisor and Kauffman as a maintenance man.
They spoke a lot then and, after many years apart, reunited through their common interest in community service.
“He showed up with a smile on his face and love in his heart, and he meant it. He was not fake at all,” Moore said. “He just brightened the room, and you wanted to work for him and help him out.”
Stan Cywinski, president of the UHCA, said the civic group had received 14 donations on Kauffman’s behalf and at his request. Before his death, Kauffman had instructed his family to make the UHCA the beneficiary of any gifts.
“We’re grateful and we’re going to work with some folks at Trumbette Playground and maybe set up a memorial marker,” Cywinski said. ••
The next Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at St. Dominic’s Marian Hall, 8532 Frankford Ave.
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215–354–3031 or [email protected]
