Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst 2026
Gary Brandl grew up in Far Rockaway and has called the Five Towns home for nearly 40 years. Together with his wife Eva, they raised their three children in a community they cherish deeply. A proud second-generation member of Congregation Beth El, Gary was profoundly shaped by his parents —Holocaust survivors— who instilled in him an enduring commitment to faith, resilience, and pride in his Jewish identity. He remains actively engaged in synagogue life, regularly attending morning minyan and enjoys Shabbat services and Temple Beth El events.
In 1983, Gary started working alongside his father and brother building Brandl Electric, serving the NYC and Nassau County areas for both commercial and residential electrical needs.
Additionally, Gary devoted more than a decade to coaching Little League and proudly served as President of the Hewlett High School Baseball Association. He is also a devoted sports fan of all New York teams and is an avid golfer.
In 1999, Gary suffered a traumatic brain injury that required years of determination and hard work to re-learn many things most people take for granted. Through perseverance and strength, he rebuilt his life. He continued with electrical work and also proudly passed the real estate license exam.
Known by many as someone with a “gutta neshuma”—a genuinely good soul—Gary is always ready to help others. He gives generously of his time through volunteering and of his resources through charitable support, consistently placing the needs of others before his own.
Above all else, Gary is most proud of his family—his children Chelsea, Corey and his wife Alexa, Isabel and her fiancé Jason, his beloved granddaughter Kelly, and his wife Eva, to whom he has been married for nearly four decades.
Eva, a marketing executive, recently retired, allowing the two of them to embrace a new chapter together, traveling more and spending winters in Florida.
Gary’s life exemplifies what it truly means to be a leader: showing up with integrity, compassion, resilience, and humility, even in the face of adversity. Leadership is not found in titles, but in service, determination, and the ability to uplift others. It is this quiet strength and unwavering commitment to family, faith, and community that make it a profound honor to recognize Gary as Temple Beth El’s Man of the Year.