Judge Marjorie Yashar Charitable Fund

Philanthropy comes naturally to retired Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal Judge Marjorie Yashar. She followed the example of her father, a “dynamic and powerful person,” who staunchly supported Jewish causes and was a business and community leader.

This mother of three successful grown children – a physician, an attorney, and a business entrepreneur – was influenced by her own mother. After the birth of her first child, Marjorie considered leaving Boston University Law School. “Don’t you dare,” admonished her mother, “You have such a good brain, you have to put it to good use.” Heeding that advice, Marjorie completed her degree – becoming the subject of an article in the Providence Journal headlined, “43 men and a wife to be sworn in as members of the RI Bar” – and went on to enjoy a long and rewarding career. “I loved being a judge,” she states emphatically. “It was a great fit for me, because I always trusted myself to make the right decisions. Fairness was my guiding principle.”

Judge Yashar also has been decisive about her philanthropy. Supporting her alma maters, Dana Hall School and Wellesley College, as well as Phillips Academy, Andover, where her three children graduated cum laude, allows Judge Yashar to extend educational opportunities to underprivileged students. And together with her former husband, she endowed the popular “Evening of Jewish Renaissance,” now in its 8th year, which attracted more than 500 attendees last year.

An enthusiastic world traveler, Judge Yashar has already taken oldest granddaughter Sarah to Italy and the Galapagos, where they snorkeled together. She notes, “I love to experience places through Sarah’s eyes as she sees them for the first time.”

Women’s causes also are dear to Judge Yashar’s heart. She is excited about using the flexibility of her Foundation fund to assist deserving Rhode Island organizations that demonstrate great need.

“We lived the American dream,” she points out. “We were lucky enough, that with hard work and some talent we were able to transcend our relatively modest circumstances. It’s a privilege to be able to give back.”

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