Morton S. Grossman, former President and Chairman of The Grossman Companies, Inc., of Quincy, a commercial real estate development, investment and management firm died on November 30th at Brigham and Women¹s Hospital in Boston. He lived in Chestnut Hill.
The grandson of the founder of the legendary L. Grossman and Sons lumber company, Morton Grossman was known as much for expanding the building materials business and launching a real estate company as he was for his creative mind and philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. Grossman's son, Louis, President of the real estate business said of his father, "He was an unusual businessman, combining old school thinking with new creative ideas". He loved being in business with his family; especially his brother, John, and his business values were based on family values. When making a deal, what was most important to him was his gut feel for the deal and the people involved.
Mr. Grossman interrupted his education at Brown University to serve as an Army anti-aircraft sergeant in Europe for three years during World War II. After the war and an Honorable Discharge, he completed his degree, graduating from Brown in 1948. He entered the family lumber business as a yard laborer and salesman before becoming a manager of six stores. Later he served as Credit Manager and in 1960 he became Vice President.
In 1956 the Quincy Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of the city¹s ten outstanding young men. At the invitation of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1959, Grossman participated in International Trade Fairs in Poznan, Poland and Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Mr. Grossman supervised the lumber company exhibit in Zagreb. Designed to demonstrate the material advantages of democracy, the exhibits became the highlights of both fairs as audiences crowded to see new products from the West.
Louis Grossman said his father also loved the banking business an outgrowth of the building supply business. He served as a director of Granite Co-Operative Bank, US Trust, Mt. Vernon Co-Operative Bank, and Workingmen's Co-Operative Bank. He served as President of Mt. Vernon Co-Operative from 1973-76.
The family building materials business was sold to Evans Products in 1969, at which time Mr. Grossman and his brother and cousin concentrated in the real estate business. While a majority of their investments have been in Greater Boston, Mr. Grossman oversaw investments in office, retail, industrial and residential properties in five states. "His philosophy was always to invest for the long term," said Louis Grossman.
Grossman was a life member of the NAACP and was an ardent early supporter of civil rights along with his late father-in-law, Kivie Kaplan. Family generosity made possible the Jacob and Rose Grossman Library at Hebrew College and the Jacob and Rose Grossman Camp in Westwood, a summer day camp that is part of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston. He was also active with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and in 1980 he chaired a one-day phone-a-thon that raised over one million dollars.
He was a Life Trustee of Rivers Country Day School, Temple Emanuel of Newton, CJP and Jewish Memorial Hospital. He was a trustee of Beaver Country Day School, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, New England Home for Little Wanderers, and Brigham and Women¹s Hospital. He served on the Executive Committee of the national United Jewish Appeal in 1974, and was vice president of Hebrew College and president of its summer camp, Camp Yavneh.
Mr. Grossman was also a supporter of the arts and many Grossman properties contained some form of public art to enhance the property and brighten the day for workers and visitors. His love of whimsy is evident by the sculpture of a girl on a swing that greets visitors to the company offices in Quincy, and a giraffe made of chrome auto bumpers that greet shoppers in Quincy.
Mr. Grossman was a collector. He had collections of watches, music boxes, vintage cars, art and historical autographs. In his office were an antique cash register and a pushcart like the one his grandfather might have used at the turn of the previous century.
Morton Grossman leaves his wife Beverly (Stallman Smith), a son, Louis and his wife, Patti, three daughters, Amy and her husband Rick Sands, Linda and her husband Kenneth Polivy, Rachel and her husband Bryan Koplow, two stepchildren, Jamie and Andrew Smith, his late wife of 49 years Sylvia (Kaplan), and 16 grandchildren.
Funeral services, under the direction of Levine Chapels, Brookline were held at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton on Thursday, December 1st. Burial was in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon.
Epstein
The grandson of the founder of the legendary L. Grossman and Sons lumber company, Morton Grossman was known as much for expanding the building materials business and launching a real estate company as he was for his creative mind and philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. Grossman's son, Louis, President of the real estate business said of his father, "He was an unusual businessman, combining old school thinking with new creative ideas". He loved being in business with his family; especially his brother, John, and his business values were based on family values. When making a deal, what was most important to him was his gut feel for the deal and the people involved.
Mr. Grossman interrupted his education at Brown University to serve as an Army anti-aircraft sergeant in Europe for three years during World War II. After the war and an Honorable Discharge, he completed his degree, graduating from Brown in 1948. He entered the family lumber business as a yard laborer and salesman before becoming a manager of six stores. Later he served as Credit Manager and in 1960 he became Vice President.
In 1956 the Quincy Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of the city¹s ten outstanding young men. At the invitation of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1959, Grossman participated in International Trade Fairs in Poznan, Poland and Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Mr. Grossman supervised the lumber company exhibit in Zagreb. Designed to demonstrate the material advantages of democracy, the exhibits became the highlights of both fairs as audiences crowded to see new products from the West.
Louis Grossman said his father also loved the banking business an outgrowth of the building supply business. He served as a director of Granite Co-Operative Bank, US Trust, Mt. Vernon Co-Operative Bank, and Workingmen's Co-Operative Bank. He served as President of Mt. Vernon Co-Operative from 1973-76.
The family building materials business was sold to Evans Products in 1969, at which time Mr. Grossman and his brother and cousin concentrated in the real estate business. While a majority of their investments have been in Greater Boston, Mr. Grossman oversaw investments in office, retail, industrial and residential properties in five states. "His philosophy was always to invest for the long term," said Louis Grossman.
Grossman was a life member of the NAACP and was an ardent early supporter of civil rights along with his late father-in-law, Kivie Kaplan. Family generosity made possible the Jacob and Rose Grossman Library at Hebrew College and the Jacob and Rose Grossman Camp in Westwood, a summer day camp that is part of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston. He was also active with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and in 1980 he chaired a one-day phone-a-thon that raised over one million dollars.
He was a Life Trustee of Rivers Country Day School, Temple Emanuel of Newton, CJP and Jewish Memorial Hospital. He was a trustee of Beaver Country Day School, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, New England Home for Little Wanderers, and Brigham and Women¹s Hospital. He served on the Executive Committee of the national United Jewish Appeal in 1974, and was vice president of Hebrew College and president of its summer camp, Camp Yavneh.
Mr. Grossman was also a supporter of the arts and many Grossman properties contained some form of public art to enhance the property and brighten the day for workers and visitors. His love of whimsy is evident by the sculpture of a girl on a swing that greets visitors to the company offices in Quincy, and a giraffe made of chrome auto bumpers that greet shoppers in Quincy.
Mr. Grossman was a collector. He had collections of watches, music boxes, vintage cars, art and historical autographs. In his office were an antique cash register and a pushcart like the one his grandfather might have used at the turn of the previous century.
Morton Grossman leaves his wife Beverly (Stallman Smith), a son, Louis and his wife, Patti, three daughters, Amy and her husband Rick Sands, Linda and her husband Kenneth Polivy, Rachel and her husband Bryan Koplow, two stepchildren, Jamie and Andrew Smith, his late wife of 49 years Sylvia (Kaplan), and 16 grandchildren.
Funeral services, under the direction of Levine Chapels, Brookline were held at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton on Thursday, December 1st. Burial was in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon.
Epstein
Morton S. Grossman, former President and Chairman of The Grossman Companies, Inc., of Quincy, a commercial real estate development, investment and management firm died on November 30th at Brigham and Women¹s Hospital in Boston. He lived in Chestnut Hill.
The grandson of the founder of the legendary L. Grossman and Sons lumber company, Morton Grossman was known as much for expanding the building materials business and launching a real estate company as he was for his creative mind and philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. Grossman's son, Louis, President of the real estate business said of his father, "He was an unusual businessman, combining old school thinking with new creative ideas". He loved being in business with his family; especially his brother, John, and his business values were based on family values. When making a deal, what was most important to him was his gut feel for the deal and the people involved.
Mr. Grossman interrupted his education at Brown University to serve as an Army anti-aircraft sergeant in Europe for three years during World War II. After the war and an Honorable Discharge, he completed his degree, graduating from Brown in 1948. He entered the family lumber business as a yard laborer and salesman before becoming a manager of six stores. Later he served as Credit Manager and in 1960 he became Vice President.
In 1956 the Quincy Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of the city¹s ten outstanding young men. At the invitation of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1959, Grossman participated in International Trade Fairs in Poznan, Poland and Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Mr. Grossman supervised the lumber company exhibit in Zagreb. Designed to demonstrate the material advantages of democracy, the exhibits became the highlights of both fairs as audiences crowded to see new products from the West.
Louis Grossman said his father also loved the banking business an outgrowth of the building supply business. He served as a director of Granite Co-Operative Bank, US Trust, Mt. Vernon Co-Operative Bank, and Workingmen's Co-Operative Bank. He served as President of Mt. Vernon Co-Operative from 1973-76.
The family building materials business was sold to Evans Products in 1969, at which time Mr. Grossman and his brother and cousin concentrated in the real estate business. While a majority of their investments have been in Greater Boston, Mr. Grossman oversaw investments in office, retail, industrial and residential properties in five states. "His philosophy was always to invest for the long term," said Louis Grossman.
Grossman was a life member of the NAACP and was an ardent early supporter of civil rights along with his late father-in-law, Kivie Kaplan. Family generosity made possible the Jacob and Rose Grossman Library at Hebrew College and the Jacob and Rose Grossman Camp in Westwood, a summer day camp that is part of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston. He was also active with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and in 1980 he chaired a one-day phone-a-thon that raised over one million dollars.
He was a Life Trustee of Rivers Country Day School, Temple Emanuel of Newton, CJP and Jewish Memorial Hospital. He was a trustee of Beaver Country Day School, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, New England Home for Little Wanderers, and Brigham and Women¹s Hospital. He served on the Executive Committee of the national United Jewish Appeal in 1974, and was vice president of Hebrew College and president of its summer camp, Camp Yavneh.
Mr. Grossman was also a supporter of the arts and many Grossman properties contained some form of public art to enhance the property and brighten the day for workers and visitors. His love of whimsy is evident by the sculpture of a girl on a swing that greets visitors to the company offices in Quincy, and a giraffe made of chrome auto bumpers that greet shoppers in Quincy.
Mr. Grossman was a collector. He had collections of watches, music boxes, vintage cars, art and historical autographs. In his office were an antique cash register and a pushcart like the one his grandfather might have used at the turn of the previous century.
Morton Grossman leaves his wife Beverly (Stallman Smith), a son, Louis and his wife, Patti, three daughters, Amy and her husband Rick Sands, Linda and her husband Kenneth Polivy, Rachel and her husband Bryan Koplow, two stepchildren, Jamie and Andrew Smith, his late wife of 49 years Sylvia (Kaplan), and 16 grandchildren.
Funeral services, under the direction of Levine Chapels, Brookline were held at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton on Thursday, December 1st. Burial was in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon.
Epstein
The grandson of the founder of the legendary L. Grossman and Sons lumber company, Morton Grossman was known as much for expanding the building materials business and launching a real estate company as he was for his creative mind and philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. Grossman's son, Louis, President of the real estate business said of his father, "He was an unusual businessman, combining old school thinking with new creative ideas". He loved being in business with his family; especially his brother, John, and his business values were based on family values. When making a deal, what was most important to him was his gut feel for the deal and the people involved.
Mr. Grossman interrupted his education at Brown University to serve as an Army anti-aircraft sergeant in Europe for three years during World War II. After the war and an Honorable Discharge, he completed his degree, graduating from Brown in 1948. He entered the family lumber business as a yard laborer and salesman before becoming a manager of six stores. Later he served as Credit Manager and in 1960 he became Vice President.
In 1956 the Quincy Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of the city¹s ten outstanding young men. At the invitation of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1959, Grossman participated in International Trade Fairs in Poznan, Poland and Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Mr. Grossman supervised the lumber company exhibit in Zagreb. Designed to demonstrate the material advantages of democracy, the exhibits became the highlights of both fairs as audiences crowded to see new products from the West.
Louis Grossman said his father also loved the banking business an outgrowth of the building supply business. He served as a director of Granite Co-Operative Bank, US Trust, Mt. Vernon Co-Operative Bank, and Workingmen's Co-Operative Bank. He served as President of Mt. Vernon Co-Operative from 1973-76.
The family building materials business was sold to Evans Products in 1969, at which time Mr. Grossman and his brother and cousin concentrated in the real estate business. While a majority of their investments have been in Greater Boston, Mr. Grossman oversaw investments in office, retail, industrial and residential properties in five states. "His philosophy was always to invest for the long term," said Louis Grossman.
Grossman was a life member of the NAACP and was an ardent early supporter of civil rights along with his late father-in-law, Kivie Kaplan. Family generosity made possible the Jacob and Rose Grossman Library at Hebrew College and the Jacob and Rose Grossman Camp in Westwood, a summer day camp that is part of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston. He was also active with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and in 1980 he chaired a one-day phone-a-thon that raised over one million dollars.
He was a Life Trustee of Rivers Country Day School, Temple Emanuel of Newton, CJP and Jewish Memorial Hospital. He was a trustee of Beaver Country Day School, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, New England Home for Little Wanderers, and Brigham and Women¹s Hospital. He served on the Executive Committee of the national United Jewish Appeal in 1974, and was vice president of Hebrew College and president of its summer camp, Camp Yavneh.
Mr. Grossman was also a supporter of the arts and many Grossman properties contained some form of public art to enhance the property and brighten the day for workers and visitors. His love of whimsy is evident by the sculpture of a girl on a swing that greets visitors to the company offices in Quincy, and a giraffe made of chrome auto bumpers that greet shoppers in Quincy.
Mr. Grossman was a collector. He had collections of watches, music boxes, vintage cars, art and historical autographs. In his office were an antique cash register and a pushcart like the one his grandfather might have used at the turn of the previous century.
Morton Grossman leaves his wife Beverly (Stallman Smith), a son, Louis and his wife, Patti, three daughters, Amy and her husband Rick Sands, Linda and her husband Kenneth Polivy, Rachel and her husband Bryan Koplow, two stepchildren, Jamie and Andrew Smith, his late wife of 49 years Sylvia (Kaplan), and 16 grandchildren.
Funeral services, under the direction of Levine Chapels, Brookline were held at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton on Thursday, December 1st. Burial was in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon.
Epstein
Inscription
BELOVED HUSBAND, FATHER AND ZAYDA
THOUGHT TO LIVE BY:
I SHALL PASS THROUGH
'THIS WORLD BUT ONCE.
ANY GOOD THEREFORE,
THAT IU CAN DO OR
ANY KINDNESS I CAN SHOW
TO ANY HUMAN BEING,
LET ME DO IT NOW.
LET ME NOT DEFER IT
OR NEGLECT IT,
FOR I SHALL NOT PASS
THIS WAY AGAIN.
-- STEPHEN GRELLET
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