Alameda loses stalwart library supporter Carl Halpern

But as his obituary notes “his heart and soul lay in politics” to the benefit of the Alameda Library. Carl used his skills to bring a new main library to Alameda. Honora Murphy, FAL Board member, remembers Carl traveling to Sacramento to lobby for the state library bond, a critical part of the funding for the new Alameda Library.

At a meeting at Honora’s house to regroup after previous library bond defeats three people stepped up to organize the next campaign. Carl was there with his hand up along with Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Frank Matarrese. He served as treasurer for Library 2000, to raise funds to replace the Carnegie Library, though many said he was the true leader of the campaign. On working with Carl,  Frank Matarrese said: “I met Carl in the mid 90's along the road to getting a new main library built. Quick wit, fierce dedication and always ready to march forward were Carl's hallmarks. His example to me is indelible.”

A speaker at Carl’s remembrance noted that he was following in his mother’s footsteps in leading the library campaign: “They both opened a library to let us in.’