David Peikoff (March 21, 1900 – January 28, 1995) Deaf leader and fund raiser. David Peikoff was born in Poltava, Russia on March 21,1900, the fifth child of fifteen siblings. He snuck away from his home when he was five to follow two older sisters to school but got lost in a blizzard becoming frozen and unconscious. Found hours later, he developed a fever afterwards and lost his hearing. Evenutally, his family emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada. He attended Manitoba School for the Deaf in Winnipeg until he was 17, then he quit school to learn to operate a linotype machine in Chicago. David decided to attend Gallaudet College at the age of 24, the oldest Preparatory student enrolled.
He was president of Gallaudet College Alumni Association when a Centennial Fund was proposed in 1960 before Gallaudet College's 100th anniversary in 1964. David Peikoff resigned as president of GCAA to focus on the drive. He and his wife, Polly traveled all over America for 6 years campaigning for pledges and cash donations. He succeeded beyond everyone's expectations as he raised $500,000. Eventually it totalled one million dollars and GCAA had the money which was given to Gallaudet College in June 1967 to build an Alumni House, set up financial assistance for deaf students of doctoral degrees, and promote cultural activities for deaf people. David Peikoff received two honorary degrees from Gallaudet College, one in 1950, an Honorary Master's degree. The second honorary degree, a Doctorate was given to him in 1967.
In 1961, he and Polly moved to the United States and lived in Maryland. During his residence, he worked at Gallaudet College until his retirement on June 30, 1970. He suffered a stroke in 1971, but he still worked hard. He co-wrote the Gallaudet Almanac with Jack Gannon and Hans Dieter-Baumert, published in 1974. He died in his sleep on January 28, 1995.
He was president of Gallaudet College Alumni Association when a Centennial Fund was proposed in 1960 before Gallaudet College's 100th anniversary in 1964. David Peikoff resigned as president of GCAA to focus on the drive. He and his wife, Polly traveled all over America for 6 years campaigning for pledges and cash donations. He succeeded beyond everyone's expectations as he raised $500,000. Eventually it totalled one million dollars and GCAA had the money which was given to Gallaudet College in June 1967 to build an Alumni House, set up financial assistance for deaf students of doctoral degrees, and promote cultural activities for deaf people. David Peikoff received two honorary degrees from Gallaudet College, one in 1950, an Honorary Master's degree. The second honorary degree, a Doctorate was given to him in 1967.
In 1961, he and Polly moved to the United States and lived in Maryland. During his residence, he worked at Gallaudet College until his retirement on June 30, 1970. He suffered a stroke in 1971, but he still worked hard. He co-wrote the Gallaudet Almanac with Jack Gannon and Hans Dieter-Baumert, published in 1974. He died in his sleep on January 28, 1995.
David Peikoff (March 21, 1900 – January 28, 1995) Deaf leader and fund raiser. David Peikoff was born in Poltava, Russia on March 21,1900, the fifth child of fifteen siblings. He snuck away from his home when he was five to follow two older sisters to school but got lost in a blizzard becoming frozen and unconscious. Found hours later, he developed a fever afterwards and lost his hearing. Evenutally, his family emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada. He attended Manitoba School for the Deaf in Winnipeg until he was 17, then he quit school to learn to operate a linotype machine in Chicago. David decided to attend Gallaudet College at the age of 24, the oldest Preparatory student enrolled.
He was president of Gallaudet College Alumni Association when a Centennial Fund was proposed in 1960 before Gallaudet College's 100th anniversary in 1964. David Peikoff resigned as president of GCAA to focus on the drive. He and his wife, Polly traveled all over America for 6 years campaigning for pledges and cash donations. He succeeded beyond everyone's expectations as he raised $500,000. Eventually it totalled one million dollars and GCAA had the money which was given to Gallaudet College in June 1967 to build an Alumni House, set up financial assistance for deaf students of doctoral degrees, and promote cultural activities for deaf people. David Peikoff received two honorary degrees from Gallaudet College, one in 1950, an Honorary Master's degree. The second honorary degree, a Doctorate was given to him in 1967.
In 1961, he and Polly moved to the United States and lived in Maryland. During his residence, he worked at Gallaudet College until his retirement on June 30, 1970. He suffered a stroke in 1971, but he still worked hard. He co-wrote the Gallaudet Almanac with Jack Gannon and Hans Dieter-Baumert, published in 1974. He died in his sleep on January 28, 1995.
He was president of Gallaudet College Alumni Association when a Centennial Fund was proposed in 1960 before Gallaudet College's 100th anniversary in 1964. David Peikoff resigned as president of GCAA to focus on the drive. He and his wife, Polly traveled all over America for 6 years campaigning for pledges and cash donations. He succeeded beyond everyone's expectations as he raised $500,000. Eventually it totalled one million dollars and GCAA had the money which was given to Gallaudet College in June 1967 to build an Alumni House, set up financial assistance for deaf students of doctoral degrees, and promote cultural activities for deaf people. David Peikoff received two honorary degrees from Gallaudet College, one in 1950, an Honorary Master's degree. The second honorary degree, a Doctorate was given to him in 1967.
In 1961, he and Polly moved to the United States and lived in Maryland. During his residence, he worked at Gallaudet College until his retirement on June 30, 1970. He suffered a stroke in 1971, but he still worked hard. He co-wrote the Gallaudet Almanac with Jack Gannon and Hans Dieter-Baumert, published in 1974. He died in his sleep on January 28, 1995.
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