Mel Landow, a self-made South Florida millionaire and benefactor of Jewish education in the region, died Feb. 4 after suffering a heart attack while playing a game of tennis. He was 81.
Self-Made Millionaire Who Supported Education Dead at 81
Mel Landow, a self-made South Florida millionaire and benefactor of Jewish education in the region, died Feb. 4 after suffering a heart attack while playing a game of tennis. He was 81.
Born in 1926 in Philadelphia, the Boca Raton, Fla., businessman and author of How to Make a Million in Retailing, as well as other books, saw much of the countryside and the world by the time he was an adult. His father, Simcha Landow, supported the family as a cantor, and his job took him from synagogue to synagogue on one-year contracts. The search for work sometimes left the family without a livelihood for months on end.
By the time of his bar mitzvah in New York City’s Coney Island, Mel Landow had already lived in Detroit, Philadelphia and the Bronx in New York. He said years later that, although the family lived through tough times, their home ñ wherever it was found ñ was loving and warm. He once wrote that he learned from these early childhood experiences that “a strong religious belief” portends a good future.
But it was an occurrence during World War II that cemented the pride in his Jewish identity. Drafted by the U.S. military in 1944, Landow was stationed in the Philippines when all the Jewish servicemen in the area were invited to a neighboring island to celebrate the High Holidays.
sam kustanovitch
Really sad how we let him just fade away after he did so much good. Yehi zichroh boruch
Miami Yid Disgusted with politcal shtick
He May have passed away but but we still call it the Landow yeshivah!
We here in Miami say, “Mel Landow have a lichtikeh gan eden”!It is thanks to you, that thousands of children have had a yiddeshe education!
baucher from O. T. 73--------76
wow !!!!! mordy M, u were the first to open the doors 4 chabad w/ Reb a. korf yr looking good . and reb zalmen w. can also be seen in the pic , the rosh @ that time . keep up the good work south fla.
unknown
I hope they dont remove his name from the school now that he is no longer with us.
anonymous
self-made millionaire? What’s up with that title. It’s not appropriate for this site to call a wealthy man self-made. Have you forgotten where Parnasa comes from?
Just Wondering
Both nicely written articles but was left wondering why Dovid Zaklikowski uses the term “dead at…” for Mel, however for Rabbi Zelig Sharfstein the term passed away… is used. I think we need to as sensitive to all Yiden…
a landow yeshiva pioneer
An honor to have gone thru the doors of Landow Yeshiva from the very beginning.
Mr. Mel Landow always had a kind word and smile that he shared with young and old alike. He made you feel like the millionaire! May the Abishter in His abundant kindness bless him in Gan Eden and his wonderful family who allowed and cheer-led Mr. Landow to do all his philanthropic deeds for all Yidden to benefit.
Landow Yeshiva lives on forever.
Yeah to our Rebbe M”HM and all His Brochos.