Joseph Wilf Explained

Joseph Wilf
Birth Date:1925
Birth Place:Jarosław, Poland
Death Date:August 3, 2016
Death Place:Hillside, New Jersey, US
Nationality:Polish
Citizenship:Polish, American
Occupation:Businessman
Known For:Co-founder, Garden Homes
Spouse:Suzie Fisch
Children:Zygi Wilf
Mark Wilf
Relations:Leonard Wilf (nephew)

Joseph Wilf (1925 – August 3, 2016) was a Polish-American businessman, Holocaust survivor, and the co-founder of Garden Homes, one of the largest real estate development companies in the United States.

Early life

Joseph Wilf was born in Jarosław, Poland in 1925.[1]

In 1950, Wilf, his brother, and their wives, emigrated to the US, and settled in New Jersey.[1]

Career

In 1954, together with his older brother, Harry Wilf, he co-founded Garden Homes, one of the largest real estate development companies in the United States.[1]

In 1964, they founded the Wilf Family Foundation, which later expanded into seven foundations.[1]

Joe Wilf volunteered with and donated to numerous organizations, including Yeshiva University, American Society for Yad Vashem, United Jewish Appeal, Israel Bonds, Jewish Agency for Israel, Joint Distribution Committee, Conference on Material Claims Against Germany, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and many other organizations.[2]

He was also the first North American chair of the March of the Living, which dedicated the 2017 March of the Living to his memory.[3]

Personal life

In 1949, Wilf married Suzie Fisch in Germany, the daughter of Miriam and Markus Fisch from a pre-war Polish city of Lwów, now Lviv.[1]

Wilf died on August 3, 2016, at his home in Hillside, New Jersey.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joseph Wilf, 'visionary' benefactor, dies at 91. New Jersey Jewish News - NJJN. 23 December 2017.
  2. http://www.jpost.com/Not-Just-News/International-Marchof-the-Living-Honors-theMemory-of-Joseph-Wilf-488699 "The Jerusalem Post."
  3. Young, Lindsey."2017 'March of the Living' Honors Memory of Joseph Wilf" Vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved 26 April 2017.