NewsBeat

August 2016 NewsBeat 23 MEMBER NEWS B ee Group Newspapers on May 20 was honored as Small Business of the Year during an awards event held by the Amherst Chamber of Commerce. The Bee was recognized for its commitment to weekly news coverage as well as its devoted service to the community. Employing more than 60 staff members, The Bee's offices are located in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville. The Amherst Bee, the firm's flagship newspaper, was established in March 1879 with Adam Rinewalt as founder and publisher. George J. Measer purchased it from the Rinewalt family in 1907 and published it until his death in 1965. Robert S. Measer, his son, was editor of The Bee until his death in 1963. George J. Measer Jr. became publisher in 1965 and held the post until his son, Trey, became publisher/president in 1994. Both of Trey Measer's sons, Michael and Rob, also have roles in the company. Michael Measer is vice president of Bee Group Newspapers and also serves on the New York Press Association's board of directors. Rob Measer is manager of the company's Circulation Department. Bee Group Newspapers honored by Chamber of Commerce Trey Measer, left, publisher and president of Bee Group Newspapers, and Michael Measer, vice president, display the company's Small Business of the Year award with Amherst Chamber of Commerce President Colleen DiPirro and Rob Measer, manager of The Bee's Circulation Department. A lbert Klass, who filled various administrative positions at The Jewish Press for more than fifty years after his brother Rabbi Sholom Klass launched the newspaper in 1960, died at his Brooklyn home last week at the age of 105. Born in Brooklyn to Moshe Feivel and Ethel Klass in 1911, Albert Klass worked closely with his brother when Sholom Klass founded the Brooklyn Weekly newspaper (which eventually became the Brooklyn Daily) in the 1940s. In 1959, alarmed by the demise of several Yiddish newspapers that had played an important role in the Jewish community, several members of the Agudas HaRabonim, led by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and Rabbi Simcha Elberg, asked Sholom Klass if he could fill the void by publishing a religiously- oriented Yiddish newspaper for Jews across the country. "I remember my father's discussion with my mother when he came home from that meeting," recalled Rabbi Klass's daughter Naomi Klass Mauer. "He recognized this was the opportunity he had dreamed of but said, 'I won't do it in Yiddish. I will publish a weekly newspaper in English that everyone in America will be able to read.' " Albert Klass was his brother's right-hand man from the debut of The Jewish Press in January 1960 through the decades of growth and success that followed. Sholom Klass passed away in January 2000, but Albert continued working at the paper for another decade, until he was nearly 100. Jewish Press sales manager Moshe Klass said his grandfather was one of the relatively small number of Jews born in America before World War I who remained religiously observant throughout their lives. "He had a strong connection to Torah and was very respectful of Torah scholars," he added. "He was self- educated man who was well read and business savvy." Albert's son Rabbi Yaakov Klass, Torah editor of The Jewish Press and spiritual leader of Khal Bnei Matisyahu, said his father was "known for his positive interaction with others, always treating people with respect and courtesy." This was particularly the case with his parents and in- laws. "He gave unquestioning honor to his parents and unquestioning honor and love to his in-law parents, always talking about the 'shvigger elter,' his wife's parents," said Rabbi Klass. "He loved them like an extra set of parents." Albert Klass is survived by his two sons, Yaakov and Arthur; a sister, Rivi Rosenthal; seven grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. — About the Author: Jason Maoz is the Senior Editor of The Jewish Press. He can be contacted at jmaoz@jewishpress.com. Albert Klass, who played a key role in rise of The Jewish Press, dies at 105 By JASON MAOZ

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