By , Special to JTNews
Community leaders asked to share a memory of Sam Stroum offered the following stories:
“When we first came to town 27 years ago, Sam and Althea were among the first to greet us. They took Julie and me out to dinner and to the Opera (remember I was a 25-year-old assistant rabbi). We remember that evening so well, and the gracious hospitality (and the fact that Sam had a car phone — probably one of the first). Over the years Sam and Althea have always been helpful in a variety of ways. Needless to say, Sam gave from the heart, and often very quietly. He will be sorely missed.”
Rabbi Jim Mirel, Temple B’nai Torah
“Whenever he visited the JCC (after receiving the massages he enjoyed so much!), he seemed most fulfilled walking the hallways, seeing the energy in the building and watching the throngs of people coming through the JCC’s doors. He always enjoyed sharing stories and conversation with everyone, from the smallest child to the most elderly person, rewarding them with his gentle smile and loving, warm touch. He made you feel that his smile and touch were special and just for you.”
Gary Pollock, Executive Director, Stroum Jewish Community Center
“In the early days of my career, Sam and I both had an office in the Seafirst Bank Building. One late afternoon, about 18 years ago, I went to visit Sam with my four-and-a-half- year-old daughter, Rachel. I left the room for a few minutes to speak with his assistant. When I returned, there was Sam (in his suit and tie) on the floor, coloring with Rachel. I couldn’t believe it. Sam, on the floor, just making her happy! That was the kind of guy that he was.”
Peter Rettman
“Last June, there was this big event in my honor [a salute to 25 years of service to Jewish Family Service] at Benaroya Hall. Just about that time, the fact that Sam was very ill became public. My assumption was this was a very sick man and he would not be at the event. I was saddened by the fact that he was sick and I really wanted him at the event. He has been so much a part of my professional life and the agency’s life. But I assumed that he would not be there. The night of the event came, in walked Sam and Althea and I just can’t express how moved I was that in the midst of his terrible illness, he came out for an evening that was about my 25th anniversary. It moved me so much. It was one of the highlights of the evening, just knowing that Sam and Althea were there.”
Ken Weinberg, Executive Director, Jewish Family Service
“When I first became Dean of Northwest Yeshiva High School, I went to see Sam with Louis Treiger. I had applied for a grant and wanted to speak with Sam about this application. Sam asked us why he should support NYHS. He explained that, after all he was not Orthodox and NYHS is clearly an Orthodox institution. We responded to Sam that although he was not himself Orthodox, he certainly supported diversity within the community. Sam apparently accepted this response. We received a grant.”
Rabbi Bernie Fox, Dean, Northwest Yeshiva High School
“The first time I met Sam was about 10 years ago, after a second-night Passover seder at Hillel. I was helping clear the tables after most of the other guests had left. Among the other volunteers was a distinguished gentleman whom I did not immediately recognize. I asked someone to identify him and was quite surprised to learn that philanthropist and community leader Samuel Stroum was part of the Hillel clean-up crew.
“He surprised me again about four years ago during my first meeting with him as editor of The Jewish Transcript. The conversation, which was friendly and personal, somehow got around to the subject of my husband’s application to the University of Washington. Sam closed our meeting with an offer to make a phone call on Tom’s behalf if he had any trouble getting in. I couldn’t believe anyone would make such a thoughtful and generous gesture on behalf of someone he did not know.”
Donna Gordon Blankinship, Transcript Editor