The Roslyn community is mourning the death of Dr. Herbert H. Hyman, a longtime resident and one of the founders of Temple Sinai. Dr. Hyman passed away last Tuesday. He was 86.

In 1947, Dr. Hyman, along with his wife Edith and other Roslyn residents founded Temple Sinai. In the coming decades, Dr. Hyman would serve Temple Sinai in a number of capacities, including senior president, a member of the synagogue's Board of Trustees, and on the temple's Brotherhood and Interfaith committees. He also served as public relations chairman for the temple during its entire existence in Roslyn. Over the years, Dr. Hyman was a regular contributor for The Roslyn News, writing numerous articles for this publication.

The story of Temple Sinai's founding eventually gained national attention. Before the temple was built, the late Reverend John W. Van Zanten, minister at Roslyn Presbyterian, invited Jewish families to hold religious services at his church.

In 1949, members of the church and the Jewish congregation produced and acted in a play, George Washington Slept Here. Rev. Van Zanten played the lead role and Dr. Hyman served as director.

The proceeds of the play went for both a new organization called the Better Roslyn Association and to the rebuilding of the Salem AME in Roslyn Heights, which had been partially destroyed by a recent fire.

Following up on these successful programs and acts of charity, Dr. Hyman originated and implemented a radio program, The Roslyn Story which was broadcast on the popular Tex and Jinx McCrary Show on NBC.

The Roslyn Story included Rabbi Alvan Rubin of Temple Sinai, Rev. Van Zanten, and Monsignor Francis Ryan representing St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Roslyn Harbor. The programs featured children from all three institutions singing and performing in their own fashion and in general, stressing the cooperation and warm feelings among the religious organizations.

When the ground-breaking at the current home of Temple Sinai took place in 1950, Jinx McCrary traveled to Roslyn to serve as mistress of ceremonies.

In addition to his work for Temple Sinai, Dr. Hyman served as public relations chairman for Israel bond drives and the United Jewish Appeal of Nassau County. For a number of years, he was also a public relations consultant for the Israeli Mission to the United Nations. Dr. Hyman served in the same capacity to the Roslyn Visiting Nurse Service. For B'nai B'rith, he was anti-defamation league chairman for both Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Dr. Hyman's many honors included the UJA's "Award of Honor" given on March 20, 1980; a Life Membership in Temple Sinai Brotherhood's Jewish Chautauqua Society; and a dinner in his honor at Temple Sinai which took place September 18, 1997. At that dinner, Dr. Hyman received proclamations from State Senator Martin Connor of the 25th district and Roslyn area governments.

In 1988, a local artist, Caroline Kaplowitz, was commissioned to paint lifesize portraits of people who had contributed to the quality of life in Nassau County. From the Roslyn area, Herb Hyman was one of the community leaders chosen to be portrayed. The paintings were exhibited in the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn.

Dr. Hyman's life before Roslyn was also filled with accomplishments. A native of the Washington Heights section of New York City, he was a graduate of the City College of New York. His Ph.D came in psychology, even though he rarely practiced in that field.

After college, he moved to Hollywood where he worked as a producer and director for United Artists. During World War II, he was stationed in Philadelphia, where he eventually worked as a correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer. During the war, he also did work for the Armed Services radio network.

When the war ended, he moved to Roslyn, first to a housing development in Brower Hill that had been specifically built for war veterans. After settling in Roslyn, Dr. Hyman worked as a sales manager for a pen company before becoming a self-employed accountant.

Dr. Hyman is survived by his wife of 59 years, Edith; three children, Dr. Edward Hyman, Dr. Gerald Hyman, and Jean Lewis; and five grandchildren, Jesse, Cameron, Gregory, Eric and Devon. Funeral services took place Thursday, May 20, 1999 at Temple Sinai in a chapel service filled to capacity with the legion of friends Dr. Hyman had made during his years in Roslyn.