Lazar Kleit, who worked his way up from an administrative assistant position in 1967 at the Philadelphia Com­mission on Human Relations to the lead role of executive director in 2001, died Sept. 17 at the age of 67.

A graduate of Temple University and a member of Congregation Adath Jeshurun, Kleit, who retired from the Phila­delphia Human Relations Commission in 2003, had served as a board member of the Jewish Com­munity Relations Council. He ­also had been a founder of District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

He is survived by his wife, Marlena Kleit; sons Solomon, Micah and Ari; and six grandchildren.