Bruce Feld, 84, Democratic leader dies

Members of longtime Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club leader Bruce Feld celebrated his life last week. Feld, who was serving as a vice president of the club at the time of his death, was remembered as a “great political mind” and “irreplaceable.” He was 84 when he died on Nov. 5.

“We lost a brilliant writer, negotiator and political mind with the passing of Bruce Feld,” said Virginia Krompinger, president of the Ben Franklin club. “You could be a political ally or rival. It didn’t matter. He saw what was best in you, and he respected it.”

Fellow club vice president Helen Morik feted Feld’s contribution to the democratic process “in ways you could not imagine.”

“While you usually can’t say someone is irreplaceable, I really believe he was. I can’t say enough about his value to the community and his integrity. He was also very knowledgeable.

Morik also mentioned she served with Feld on the board of the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where he was president.

At its last club meeting on Nov. 29, members commemorated Feld’s life and contributions to the political landscape in greater Riverdale. The day before the meeting Ellen and Marlon Feld invited club members to a memorial service at Riverdale Temple.

“There are many things to say about his extraordinary life,” Krompinger said. “But what most impressed me Bruce’s ability to see the humanity in everyone.”

Feld had been male Democratic district leader of the 81st Assembly district before stepping down in 2014.

The move marked the close of a roughly 10-year stint at the post, which, along with the female district leader, helps find people for various party and poll-working positions — and spends countless hours advising, campaigning for and otherwise helping the area’s elected officials.

After years of studying and participating in the local political process, Feld previously taught political science at Barnard College. Prior to that he had a 12-year run as deputy director, then director of former Mayor Ed Koch’s Community Assistance Unit.

— Gary Larkin