Abraham C. Ratshevsky, noted Jewish philanthropist and former president of the Federation of Jewish Charities in Boston, died here last night at the age of 78. He was U.S. Minister to Czechoslovakia during President Hoover’s administration.
A leader of Boston Jews, Ratshevsky was also a prominent public figure in Boston. He served several terms in the Boston City Council and a number of terms in the Massachusetts legislature. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston University. During World War 1 he was assistant food administrator under Hoover. He was also chairman of the Boston Metropolitan Chapter of the American Red Cross.
For many years Ratshevsky served on the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee. Two of his most notable donations were $200,000 for a building for the Both Israel Hospital in memory of his brother, and $100,000 for the founding of the Ratshevsky Charity Foundation which supported Jewish and non-Jewish charitable groups in Boston. He also presented the poor boys of Boston with a completely equipped camp in memory of his father. On his initiative, an American Institute was established in Prague to promote better understanding between the people of Czechoslovakia and the United States.
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