MEYERHOFF, JOSEPH

MEYERHOFF, JOSEPH (1899–1985), U.S. businessman, communal worker, and philanthropist. Meyerhoff was born in a small town near Poltava, Russia, and was taken to the United States in 1906, settling with his family in Baltimore, Maryland. From 1921 he headed his own building and real estate firm, which developed new communities, especially in the Baltimore area, and shopping centers in many cities. Meyerhoff was associated with the United Jewish Appeal (uja), of which he was general chairman (1961–64) and a member of the executive committee thereafter. In 1961, while serving with the uja, Meyerhoff established the Israel Education Fund, in conjunction with the government of Israel and the Jewish Agency.

He also served with the pec Israel Economic Corporation, of which he was president (1957–63), and later as chairman of the board and the executive committee. He also was chairman of the Israel Education Fund of the uja (1965–67). He served on the board of directors of many national and international Jewish organizations and institutions, including the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1961–67). A philanthropic leader in his local Baltimore Jewish community, his local interests included the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, of which he served as vice president and chairman of the board (1943–59), and Associated Jewish Charities and Welfare Fund Campaign of Baltimore, of which he was general chairman (1951–52). Meyerhoff served the state of Maryland as chairman of the State Planning Commission (1956–63), as member of the State Board of Public Welfare (1953–57), and in other capacities.

Many organizations and facilities in Israel and the United States bear the benefits of his benevolence. Some of those that bear his name include the Joseph Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds; the Joseph Meyerhoff Library at Baltimore Hebrew University; and Hillel's Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning.