DAROFF, SAMUEL H.

DAROFF, SAMUEL H. (1900–1967), Philadelphia clothing manufacturer; Jewish and civic leader. Daroff joined his father's clothing business, which grew into a nationally known firm. Daroff began his philanthropic career at the age of 27 in the Masonic Golden Slipper Club, and then gradually became known for his willingness to give time, money, and energy to good causes. He was campaign chairman of Philadelphia's Allied Jewish Appeal from 1945 to 1948. His period of communal leadership (1935–65) coincided with the coming of age and responsibility of the children of East European Jews, whom he represented in the succession to authority. One of his favorite organizations was the Philadelphia Jewish Armed Services Committee of the uso-jwb, to which he gave intense support long after interest in military and veterans' work had waned; another was the local branch of the American Jewish Congress. He was the second president of Philadelphia's Albert Einstein Medical Center (1953–57), which named its southern division for him, after his death. Daroff was active on the boards of a large number of national and international agencies and institutions. In Philadelphia he was interested in the work of the United Fund, Police Athletic League (which named one of its centers for him after his death), Hero Scholarship Fund, and Associated Hospital Service. Hundreds of honors were awarded to him, frequently in connection with fundraising efforts. Philadelphia honored him with the presidency of the Board of City Trusts, and in the state he was appointed chairman of the governor's Industrial Race Relations Committee and member of the Pennsylvania Fair Employment Practices Committee. While his personal inclinations were toward a traditional form of Judaism, Daroff was a member and supporter of many congregations – Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

[Bertram Wallace Korn]