Al Ostraff, Life of Service

Albert Perry Ostraff, age 84, of Alpine, Utah, passed away on September 10, 2011. He was Born September 8, 1927 in Los Angeles, CA.

Albert had a long association with B’Nai Shalom;he was one of the early members when it was first formed. At that time Harry Glick was president and meetings were often held in Harry’s home. It was a small organization made up mostly of Jewish converts to the church and their families and friends. [According to our history, Harry Glick was President in 1981. He must have been President at an earlier time also.]

B’Nai Shalom has always had a special place in Al’s heart. In the 1990’s he served as president with Jerome [Jerry] Horowitz as 1st Counselor, Elissa Moiling as 2nd Counselor, Gwen Bardsley as secretary, and with Christina Heath over the music. B’nai Shalom was few in numbers back then but the spirit was strong.

Statement by Al when he was President

Dear B'Nai Shalom Brothers and Sisters,

Though our numbers are few, they are much greater than when I joined the Church. Let us be witnesses to our brothers.

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established", 2 Cor. 13.1. Let me suggest to you that the Jewish people are one of the great witnesses that Jesus lived. Through hundreds of years from Father to Son, the Jewish people were prevented from contemplating the great question: Is Jesus the Messiah? The persecution in the name of Jesus is the very reason. It would appear you would be a traitor to your ancestors as well as to your family if you accepted Jesus as the Messiah.

The millions of Jews killed through the ages by 'so called' Christians have precluded the question. This persecution in the very name of Jesus has kept the Jewish people distinct. We are a living witness to ourselves and to the world that the man Jesus did live. Then the question remains to all: Is Jesus the Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, the Christ? I witness even as you do, that Jesus is the Messiah. Thus may we follow the counsel of His servants, the living prophets of his church.

Let us spiritually sing and lift one another in the love of Christ. Invite your Jewish friends to join in fellowship with us.

Albert Ostraff, President

He began attending church with LDS neighbors when he was eleven, and this was followed by baptism when he was seventeen. Al feels he was prepared for the gospel as he developed a special relationship with his Heavenly Father through prayer as a young boy. A story teller, who came to his school, would end his stories with, “Don’t forget to pray.” Al had never prayed, but he started to talk to God different times throughout the day, and when he finally attended his first church meeting he felt the spirit bear witness to him. He says, “I thought, this isn’t from me. I knew that I hadn’t invented it. I felt it very strongly, and I said to myself, ‘this is what I want in my life.’

In Scout Uniform

In the Navy

During the years following high school graduation in Burbank, California., Albert spent two years in the Navy (1947, USS Boxer), served a 30 month mission to the Near East (Lebanon/Syria) and West German Missions, graduated from BYU with a degree in Business Administration, followed by an MBA at Stanford, University.

Al worked as a LDS Institute Director and served as liaison for the LDS Church in May 1975, in the relocation of Vietnamese refugees from Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

He was a gifted educator and a dynamic speaker. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Business Administration and received a MBA from Stanford University.

Extract from https://universe.byu.edu/2002/12/10/good-samaritan-caters-bread-across-utah-county/

Most students don't know his name, but many have seen the mystery bread man in his old white station wagon delivering rolls, bagels, muffins and other baked goods at Wymount Terrace [Utah County]. The balding, elderly man with a Band-aid on one ear slows his car as if to ask directions, but he knows exactly where he”s going. Albert Ostraff of Alpine is the mysterious man, and he has a soft spot for students. He, his wife and their three children are all BYU alumni.

Ostraff said he prefers to be known only as Albert, and shied at the idea of being the subject of an article. Eventually, he opened up and told stories about his Navy days in the 40”s and his work in travel and higher education.

Now Ostraff salvages day-old bread from different local stores three days a week and delivers it to people he said he thinks could use it.Ostraff delivers his edibles to Deseret Industries, families, and widows he knows. Whenever there is bread left over, he takes it to the students at Wymount. Ostraff has been in the bread delivery business for more than 20 years. Ostraff enjoys helping people while maintaining a low profile.

But Nola Ostraff said in their BYU days, her husband was anything but low profile. She recalled seeing a picture of Ostraff on the front page of “The Y News,” precursor to “The Daily Universe.” In the photo he was riding a white horse across campus. She filled out a preference card, which is how women at BYU asked their dates to the preference dance at the time, because she wanted to get to know Ostraff.

She did. Al married Nola in 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married for 58 years.

See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=albert-p-ostraff&pid=153624105#sthash.mjX52ZZz.dpuf