Funeral services will be held this morning at eleven o’clock at Temple Emanu-el for Abraham E. Lefcourt, Jewish builder of skyscrapers, who began his career at the age of twelve as a newsboy and bootblack and who died at fifty-four a millionaire.
Mr. Lefcourt died suddenly of a heart attack in his suite in the Hotel Savoy Plaza.
In 1930, he was credited with the building of thirty-one skyscrapers, the combined properties of which were valued at $250,000,000 in land and improvements.
In 1925, he presented to his twelve year old son, a deed for property valued at $10,000,000. The boy died of anemia two years ago. It is said that Mr. Lefcourt never fully recovered from the blow.
Mr. Lefcourt was born on the East Side of New York City and reared in the atmosphere of Henry Street. His career included newspaper selling, that of a bootblack, and a clerk in a retail drygoods store. He was credited with tearing down more historic landmarks in New York than perhaps any other man. His widow, a daughter and a brother survive.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.