“Altoona’s ambassador” Hyman Antikol, 77, was recently honored with the first President’s Award from the Booker T. Washington Corporation during the Central Blair Recreation Commission’s 15th Annual Community Classic Dinner on Sunday. Seen at his home with a previous award for his community service, Antikol’s life and career has been marked by caring for others. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor

When most people retire, they take the time to relax after a long career, but for Hyman “Hymie” Antikol, it meant he could dedicate more time giving back to his community.

Nicknamed “Altoona’s Ambassador,” Antikol received the first President’s Award from the Booker T. Washington Corporation during the Central Blair Recreation Commission’s 15th Annual Community Classic Dinner on Sunday.

Antikol was shocked when he found out about the award.

“I cried,” he said.

According to Shasta Langenbacher, president of the Booker T. Washington Revitalization Group, the President’s Award is given to those who show a commitment to the community and Booker T. Washington’s initiatives. She said it was created with Antikol in mind and touched on his work for other organizations like the Red Cross and UPMC Altoona.

Antikol said he is so heavily involved in the community because he “wants to be.”

“I want to give back to my community and keep my faith,” Antikol said. “It’s important to me.”

A lifelong member of Agudath Achim synagogue, Antikol said being Jewish means a lot to him and he always tries to keep kosher. It was his parents, Maurice “Mo” and Geraldine “Gerry” Antikol that instilled in him the need to give back to the community.

“Hy had really good role models in his parents and he always aimed to try to live up to the kind of community service that his parents demonstrated,” said Bill Wallen, executive director of the Greater Altoona Jewish Federation. “Both of his parents were very committed to family, the synagogue and the community. Hy has always tried to emulate that.”

Antikol echoed that, saying his parents “affected me a great deal.”

“They had a big influence on my life,” Antikol said. “They made me who I am.”

His parents were “both very active volunteers at the Altoona Hospital,” Wallen said, a cause that Antikol has also taken up. Antikol has even helped with events for Easter and setting up the Turkey Bowl at Thanksgiving.

“It’s how you treat people,” Antikol said. “I care about people.”

At the synagogue, Antikol helps out by taking on the role of greeter and usher.

“He’s able to introduce new members to others and make them feel comfortable,” Wallen said. “He’s a real fixture at the synagogue.”

Wallen added that Antikol is “everybody’s friend” and “he’s involved in so many things and organizations in the community that wherever he goes, he knows so many people there and they know him.”

Antikol is so well known in the area that he has a Facebook page in his honor, called “Hymie, Altoona’s Ambassador,” which has about 1,700 members.

“They’re always talking about seeing him at events and how kind he is,” Wallen said. “He, like his parents, would do anything for anybody.”

Antikol retired at the age of 65 from the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center after 25 years. Before that, he worked at Shulman’s in downtown Altoona.

Antikol said he never wanted to go to college, as he was “going to high school and working at the same time.”

Now, he spends some time volunteering for his post office’s food drives.

“I help people, that’s the way I am,” Antikol said.

Andrea Cohen, president of Blair Companies and Antikol’s longtime friend, said she was “thrilled that Hy has been recognized with the President’s Award.”

“He has a strong sense of community and proudly supports the organizations he values,” Cohen said. “Many people in the community consider him a friend.”

Cohen said Antikol “is a mensch, a Yiddish word meaning ‘a decent human being.'”

“He exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding member of society and lives an ethical life,” Cohen said. “I am continually impressed by his thoughtfulness and kindness.”

Antikol “regularly attends services and generously hosts meals to honor and remember his parents.”

“We can always count on Hy’s unwavering support for all life cycle events,” Antikol said.

As for the future, Antikol said he’ll probably start scaling back on his work when he hits 80 years old.

“I’ll start thinking about myself,” Antikol said with a smile.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.