Harry Wilf Explained

Harry Wilf
Birth Date:1921
Birth Place:Poland
Death Date:1992
Death Place:US
Nationality:American
Occupation:Businessman
Known For:Co-founder, Garden Homes
Spouse:Judith Jakubowiez
Children:Leonard Wilf
Relations:Joseph Wilf (brother)

Harry Wilf (1921 – 1992) was a Polish-born American businessman, and the co-founder of Garden Homes, one of the largest real estate development companies in the United States.

Early life

Harry Wilf was born in Poland in 1921, the son of Ella and Oscar Wilf. At the start of World War II, the Russians deported the family from Jaroslaw, Poland, to a Siberian labor camp.[1]

In 1950, they emigrated to the US, and settled in Hillside, New Jersey.[2] [3]

Career

In 1954, together with his brother, Joseph Wilf, he co-founded Garden Homes, one of the largest real estate development companies in the United States.[2]

In 1964, they founded the Wilf Family Foundation, which later expanded into seven foundations.[2]

Personal life

He was married to Judith Jakubowiez (died 2006), and they had a son, Leonard Wilf.[4]

Legacy

In 1996, the Jerusalem Foundation renovated a 12acres park in central Jerusalem (originally called Independence Park, and planted in 1958 by the South African Zionist Federation to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Israel), and rededicated it as Harry Wilf Park.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Michael . Craig. Big Bad Wilf: Did Zygi's Stardust Take It All Too Far? . The Observer. October 22, 2013.
  2. Web site: For Wilf family, a philanthropy milestone. New Jersey Jewish News - NJJN. 26 December 2017.
  3. Staff. "People in the News: School will honor Wilf", Hillside Leader, December 12, 1991. Accessed December 27, 2017. "Hillside resident Harry Wilf will be awarded in honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Yeshiva University's 67th annual Hanukkah Convocation and Dinner Dec. 15 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York."
  4. News: Paid Notice: Deaths WILF, JUDITH. The New York Times. 2 July 2006. 26 December 2017.
  5. Web site: Harry Wilf (Independence) Park 1972. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822064722/projects.jerusalemfoundation.org/art-culture/art/harry-wilf-(independence)-park.aspx. 2016-08-22.