Washington Jewish Week (DC) - May 12, 2010
Deceased Name: Jonathan P. Grossman, historian, educator, 94
Jonathan P. Grossman of Washington, D.C., former chief historian for the U.S. Department of Labor, and until last year the president of the Sanz School, died May 4 at George Washington University Hospital in the District. He was 94.
In the 1980s, Grossman served as president of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
"It was a privilege for the society to have a professional historian as its president," said Laura Cohen Apelbaum, director of the historical society. "He was an incredibly nice person and a great intellect. He pushed us to consult with academics and make our work intellectually rigorous."
After his presidency, he remained involved in the historical society's work, added Apelbaum, as a generous supporter, attending functions, getting the next generation involved and "he was great at giving me advice."
Born in New York, Grossman earned his bachelor's degree with honors at City College of New York in 1936, his master's degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1938 and his doctorate in history in 1944, also at Columbia.
He came to Washington in 1949 to accept a position with the Department of the Army and was charged with investigating how the U.S. government handled labor issues during World War II. His work led to a book, The Army and Industrial Manpower, published in 1954. In 1962, he was named chief historian of the Department of Labor, where he remained for 20 years. Another book, The Department of Labor, a history of the department, was published in 1974 and earned Grossman a Distinguished Career Service Award, which was presented to him by President Gerald Ford.
Together with his late wife, Rita Kurtzberg Grossman, Grossman purchased the Temple School, a small Washington institution with 50 students, in 1950, and became chair of its board. The school specialized in short courses such as typing and shorthand. By the time it was sold to ITT in 1969, it boasted 13,000 students.
After his retirement from government service in 1982, he purchased the Sanz School and introduced vocational courses and several other innovations. The student body grew from 60 to more than 2,000. He served as president of the school well into his 90s, retiring late last year.
Grossman served on the faculties of City College of New York, Rutgers University, American University and the University of Maryland. While at City College, he helped retiring Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. prepare his memoirs.
Grossman was a member of the Cosmos Club and the National Press Club. In addition, he was honorary chair of the Sylvis Society, a worldwide organization of labor historians named for U.S. labor leader William Sylvis, about whom Grossman published a biography in 1944. He was considered the leading authority on Sylvis' life and work.
Predeceased by his wife, Rita, and his son, Jeremy, Grossman is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marilyn; his sons, Daniel and Ethan, both of Washington; his brother, Raphael of New Port Richey, Fla.; his grandchildren, Yehudis Seliktar of Jerusalem, David of Columbia, Elaine of Washington, Andrew of Los Angeles, Joseph of New York City, Rita Grossman-Vermaas of Washington, Alex Glaser of Washington and Cameron Ross of Princeton Junction, N.J.; and seven great-grandsons.
Deceased Name: Jonathan P. Grossman, historian, educator, 94
Jonathan P. Grossman of Washington, D.C., former chief historian for the U.S. Department of Labor, and until last year the president of the Sanz School, died May 4 at George Washington University Hospital in the District. He was 94.
In the 1980s, Grossman served as president of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
"It was a privilege for the society to have a professional historian as its president," said Laura Cohen Apelbaum, director of the historical society. "He was an incredibly nice person and a great intellect. He pushed us to consult with academics and make our work intellectually rigorous."
After his presidency, he remained involved in the historical society's work, added Apelbaum, as a generous supporter, attending functions, getting the next generation involved and "he was great at giving me advice."
Born in New York, Grossman earned his bachelor's degree with honors at City College of New York in 1936, his master's degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1938 and his doctorate in history in 1944, also at Columbia.
He came to Washington in 1949 to accept a position with the Department of the Army and was charged with investigating how the U.S. government handled labor issues during World War II. His work led to a book, The Army and Industrial Manpower, published in 1954. In 1962, he was named chief historian of the Department of Labor, where he remained for 20 years. Another book, The Department of Labor, a history of the department, was published in 1974 and earned Grossman a Distinguished Career Service Award, which was presented to him by President Gerald Ford.
Together with his late wife, Rita Kurtzberg Grossman, Grossman purchased the Temple School, a small Washington institution with 50 students, in 1950, and became chair of its board. The school specialized in short courses such as typing and shorthand. By the time it was sold to ITT in 1969, it boasted 13,000 students.
After his retirement from government service in 1982, he purchased the Sanz School and introduced vocational courses and several other innovations. The student body grew from 60 to more than 2,000. He served as president of the school well into his 90s, retiring late last year.
Grossman served on the faculties of City College of New York, Rutgers University, American University and the University of Maryland. While at City College, he helped retiring Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. prepare his memoirs.
Grossman was a member of the Cosmos Club and the National Press Club. In addition, he was honorary chair of the Sylvis Society, a worldwide organization of labor historians named for U.S. labor leader William Sylvis, about whom Grossman published a biography in 1944. He was considered the leading authority on Sylvis' life and work.
Predeceased by his wife, Rita, and his son, Jeremy, Grossman is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marilyn; his sons, Daniel and Ethan, both of Washington; his brother, Raphael of New Port Richey, Fla.; his grandchildren, Yehudis Seliktar of Jerusalem, David of Columbia, Elaine of Washington, Andrew of Los Angeles, Joseph of New York City, Rita Grossman-Vermaas of Washington, Alex Glaser of Washington and Cameron Ross of Princeton Junction, N.J.; and seven great-grandsons.
Washington Jewish Week (DC) - May 12, 2010
Deceased Name: Jonathan P. Grossman, historian, educator, 94
Jonathan P. Grossman of Washington, D.C., former chief historian for the U.S. Department of Labor, and until last year the president of the Sanz School, died May 4 at George Washington University Hospital in the District. He was 94.
In the 1980s, Grossman served as president of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
"It was a privilege for the society to have a professional historian as its president," said Laura Cohen Apelbaum, director of the historical society. "He was an incredibly nice person and a great intellect. He pushed us to consult with academics and make our work intellectually rigorous."
After his presidency, he remained involved in the historical society's work, added Apelbaum, as a generous supporter, attending functions, getting the next generation involved and "he was great at giving me advice."
Born in New York, Grossman earned his bachelor's degree with honors at City College of New York in 1936, his master's degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1938 and his doctorate in history in 1944, also at Columbia.
He came to Washington in 1949 to accept a position with the Department of the Army and was charged with investigating how the U.S. government handled labor issues during World War II. His work led to a book, The Army and Industrial Manpower, published in 1954. In 1962, he was named chief historian of the Department of Labor, where he remained for 20 years. Another book, The Department of Labor, a history of the department, was published in 1974 and earned Grossman a Distinguished Career Service Award, which was presented to him by President Gerald Ford.
Together with his late wife, Rita Kurtzberg Grossman, Grossman purchased the Temple School, a small Washington institution with 50 students, in 1950, and became chair of its board. The school specialized in short courses such as typing and shorthand. By the time it was sold to ITT in 1969, it boasted 13,000 students.
After his retirement from government service in 1982, he purchased the Sanz School and introduced vocational courses and several other innovations. The student body grew from 60 to more than 2,000. He served as president of the school well into his 90s, retiring late last year.
Grossman served on the faculties of City College of New York, Rutgers University, American University and the University of Maryland. While at City College, he helped retiring Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. prepare his memoirs.
Grossman was a member of the Cosmos Club and the National Press Club. In addition, he was honorary chair of the Sylvis Society, a worldwide organization of labor historians named for U.S. labor leader William Sylvis, about whom Grossman published a biography in 1944. He was considered the leading authority on Sylvis' life and work.
Predeceased by his wife, Rita, and his son, Jeremy, Grossman is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marilyn; his sons, Daniel and Ethan, both of Washington; his brother, Raphael of New Port Richey, Fla.; his grandchildren, Yehudis Seliktar of Jerusalem, David of Columbia, Elaine of Washington, Andrew of Los Angeles, Joseph of New York City, Rita Grossman-Vermaas of Washington, Alex Glaser of Washington and Cameron Ross of Princeton Junction, N.J.; and seven great-grandsons.
Deceased Name: Jonathan P. Grossman, historian, educator, 94
Jonathan P. Grossman of Washington, D.C., former chief historian for the U.S. Department of Labor, and until last year the president of the Sanz School, died May 4 at George Washington University Hospital in the District. He was 94.
In the 1980s, Grossman served as president of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
"It was a privilege for the society to have a professional historian as its president," said Laura Cohen Apelbaum, director of the historical society. "He was an incredibly nice person and a great intellect. He pushed us to consult with academics and make our work intellectually rigorous."
After his presidency, he remained involved in the historical society's work, added Apelbaum, as a generous supporter, attending functions, getting the next generation involved and "he was great at giving me advice."
Born in New York, Grossman earned his bachelor's degree with honors at City College of New York in 1936, his master's degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1938 and his doctorate in history in 1944, also at Columbia.
He came to Washington in 1949 to accept a position with the Department of the Army and was charged with investigating how the U.S. government handled labor issues during World War II. His work led to a book, The Army and Industrial Manpower, published in 1954. In 1962, he was named chief historian of the Department of Labor, where he remained for 20 years. Another book, The Department of Labor, a history of the department, was published in 1974 and earned Grossman a Distinguished Career Service Award, which was presented to him by President Gerald Ford.
Together with his late wife, Rita Kurtzberg Grossman, Grossman purchased the Temple School, a small Washington institution with 50 students, in 1950, and became chair of its board. The school specialized in short courses such as typing and shorthand. By the time it was sold to ITT in 1969, it boasted 13,000 students.
After his retirement from government service in 1982, he purchased the Sanz School and introduced vocational courses and several other innovations. The student body grew from 60 to more than 2,000. He served as president of the school well into his 90s, retiring late last year.
Grossman served on the faculties of City College of New York, Rutgers University, American University and the University of Maryland. While at City College, he helped retiring Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. prepare his memoirs.
Grossman was a member of the Cosmos Club and the National Press Club. In addition, he was honorary chair of the Sylvis Society, a worldwide organization of labor historians named for U.S. labor leader William Sylvis, about whom Grossman published a biography in 1944. He was considered the leading authority on Sylvis' life and work.
Predeceased by his wife, Rita, and his son, Jeremy, Grossman is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marilyn; his sons, Daniel and Ethan, both of Washington; his brother, Raphael of New Port Richey, Fla.; his grandchildren, Yehudis Seliktar of Jerusalem, David of Columbia, Elaine of Washington, Andrew of Los Angeles, Joseph of New York City, Rita Grossman-Vermaas of Washington, Alex Glaser of Washington and Cameron Ross of Princeton Junction, N.J.; and seven great-grandsons.
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
