I OBITUARIES I
4 - & 1.4z. js
41
Benefactor Sam Cohodas
Helped Israel Causes
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112
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1988
Sam Cohodas, a grade
school dropout who became a
millionaire benefitting col-
leges and Jewish causes, died
April 1 at age 92.
Born in Poland, "Mr. Sam,"
as he became known, was
recognized with banners
across the main streets of
Marquette and Ishpeming
when there was occasion to
honor him on a birthday or
when he gave in the hundreds
of thousands to advance
educational needs and
establish scholarships.
Similarly, he was held in high
esteem in Jerusalem for the
leadership he assumed in this
country to make the Hebrew
University a priority in sup-
porting Israeli needs.
Mr. Cohodas was the "Pro-
duce King" of the Midwest.
He was the Northern
Michigan pioneer in
agriculture and industrial
commerce. He was the in-
itiator of synagogues up
north and he devoted himself
to aiding the underprivileged.
With only a sixth-grade
education, he rose to pro-
minence, earning honorary
doctorates from Northern
Michgian University and
Hebrew University.
Mr. Cohodas, who turned
the family fruit store into a
multi-million-dollar produce
and banking enterprise, was
a major benefactor to Upper
Peninsula high school
students who sought scholar-
ships, to Northern Michigan
University and to Hebrew
University. Jewish organiza-
tions, university and medical
school scholarship funds were
recipients of Cohodas gifts.
Mr. Cohodas was chairman
emeritus of the First National
Bank of Marquette and its
holding company, Michigan
Financial Corp. of Marquette,
which owns seven Upper
Peninsula banks.
He had business interests
in California, Washington,
Arizona, Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Illinois and Canada. In
addition, he was a vice presi-
dent of Northern Electric
Foundry and vice president of
Charter, Inc. Some of his
business involvements includ-
ed Office of Price Administra-
tion, Canadian-American Ap-
ple Association, Western
Fruit Jobbers Associatiion,
International United Fruit
and Produce Organization,
United Fruit Corp, Republic
Airlines, Packer Football
Team Corp., Panax Inc.,
Michigan Bankers Associa-
tion and International Apple
Association.
The
administration
Sam Cohodas
building and library at NMU
were named in his honor and
a $1 million chair there in
business will soon be named
for him.
He has been honored many
times by State of Israel Bonds
as well as by the U.S. Air
Force. Mr. Cohodas was a 33rd
Degree Mason, a Paul Harris
Fellow of Rotary, Interna-
tional and recipient of the
Jerusalem Liberation Award.
His organizational affilia-
tions were legion and includ-
ed: Mayo Clinic Medical
Center, State of Israel Bonds,
St. Norbert's College, Ben-
Gurion University, Northern
Michigan University, Na-
tional Jewish Hospital in
Denver, Michigan
Technological University,
Hebrew University, Bell
Memorial Hospital, Bay Cliff
Health Camp, Suomi College,
B'nai B'rith, Boy Scouts and
Girl Scouts, Marquette
Chamber of Commerce,
Israel's Shaare Zedek
Hospital,
Boys Town
Jerusalem,
Hadassah
Founders Club.
He is survived by a sister,
Ethel Ornstein of Sarasota;
and a nephew, Willard of
Marquette.
Zilpah Tobin
Zilpah R. Tobin, past presi-
dent off' the Woman's Aux-
iliary of the United Hebrew
Schools, died April 4 at age
91.
Born in South Bend, Ind.,
Mrs. Ibbin was a life member
of Hadassah, Women's
American ORT, Jewish Na-
tional Fund, Sinai Hospital
Guild, a charter member of
Hillel Day School, a member
of Cong. Shaarey Zedek and
its sisterhood.
She leaves a daughter, Mrs.
Ben (Miriam) Gotlib of Flint;
a sister, Mrs. Esther
Goldblatt of Chicago, Ill.;
three grandchildren and
eight great-grandchildren.