Jewish Organizations Mourn Tragic Death of Louis Sobel and Wife

Jewish welfare and cultural organizations mourned today the tragic death of Louis H. Sobel and his wife, Minna, who perished in the disaster in Chesapeake Bay when hurricane Connie wrecked the pleasure schooner Levin J Marvel on which they were spending their vacation.

Mr. Sobel, who was 54, was one of the most prominent Jewish social workers in the United States. He was executive director of the Jewish Child Care Association of New York since 1947. Earlier, he held the post of secretary of the Joint Distribution Committee for five years. He was active in the YM-YWHA movement and in Jewish Federation work. During 1947-48 he was president of the National Conference of Jewish Communal Service, the central body of Jewish social workers in this country, and during 1948-49 he was vice-president of the International Conference of Jewish Social Work.

Mrs. Minna Sobel was active in Hadassah and in other Jewish communal activities. Two years ago Mr. and Mrs. Sobel were sent to Israel on a Hadassah mission to review the work of the organization there and to make recommendations for its future program. Mr. Sobel was a member of the Hadassah Youth Reference Board during 1949-54 He was also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the American Jewish Committee.

Brought to this country from Lithuania at the age of three, Mr. Sobel retained a strong interest in Yiddish culture. He was chairman of the board of YIVO, Jewish Scientific Institute. He received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees at New York University. He later lectured on social science at Wayne and New York Universities. He was also the author of a number of works on child care and vocational guidance.