Rosewood Avenue Elementary School second-grader Cameron Wilson looked at the vacant chair and sprung at the opportunity, “Can I read with Harry?”

Volunteer Harry Labinger helped Rosewood Elementary second grader Cameron Wilson pronounce the words during a reading session. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

Her teacher, a substitute for Mrs. Duque, said OK, so she sat down near the back of the class with Harry, who was smiling and sitting near a copy of “Curious George”.

“You wanna read this book?” Harry asked. Cameron nodded.

She began to read, looking at Harry every so often to make sure she pronounced a word correctly. Cameron was doing well, but she stumbled on a four-syllable word.

“Take it in parts,” Harry said.

“Fasc-i-nat-ed?” she said. Harry nodded.

That has played out in Mrs. Duque’s second-grade class every week for several years now. Harry Labinger shows up at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays, reads one-on-one with a student, helping Rosewood’s youngest fine-tune their literacy skills.

“Harry’s been coming for years,” Rosewood principal Linda Crowder said. “I don’t think he’s ever missed a day.”

Labinger is a volunteer with Koreh L.A., a Jewish Federation literacy program that pairs willing reading partners with students in Los Angeles. He is 93 years old, uses a walker to get around and hires a driver to take him to and from his volunteer obligations.

“I do not do anything for charge at this point [in my life],” Labinger said. “That’s what makes it more interesting — when you can do things for others instead of yourself.”

He immigrated from Uzbekistan in 1931, and soon started a manufacturing company that specialized in die-cutting. Labinger operated the company for more than 40 years, eventually selling it in the late 1980s. He opted to retire, and those close to him joked that he’d finally have plenty of free time to play golf.

“I said, ‘That’s not for me. I’ll be crazy in no time,’” Labinger said.

For three years, he worked as a consultant under his former company’s new management. After that, Labinger began volunteering, something that is still fulfilling Angeleno to this day.

He started counseling small business owners, whether through the SCORE program or through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Labinger included Rosewood in his agenda because his children had attended that very school some 60 years ago. Also, the importance of reading and learning had been stamped on his soul.

Labinger is the father of two children, and when his first-born arrived, his father-in-law immediately started teaching him to read. He said that by age 1, his son could read a newspaper; by age 3, he could read them in two languages. His daughter followed those footsteps.

His father-in-law had lived his life without an education, and as he aged he realized how important it was for children. Labinger said the experience taught him to open a child’s mind at the earliest age possible.

“It’s a game to them,” he said. “Can you imagine how many Einsteins there would be if every one started learning at the age of one?”

However, it is evident that his volunteerism is mutually beneficial. Labinger said he has filled his schedule with volunteer opportunities, and it certainly beats playing golf.

“It’s an automatic response from children, whether they appreciate what they’re doing or not,” he said. “It’s a really good feeling, especially when they show improvement.”

But Labinger doesn’t take the credit.

“Anybody can do the same thing,” he added.

Though the benefit to Labinger is undeniable, Crowder said his volunteerism at the school is certainly a service to the children.

“It really is good for the kids too,” she said.