Milton Goldberger Dead at 79

Milton Goldberger, former editor of the Hebrew Watchman, the local Jewish weekly, died here May 26 at the age of 79. Joining the staff of the Hebrew Watchman in 1928, he served as editor of the weekly newspaper for 27 years.

He worked with his brothers, Leo and Emanuel Goldberger in the family publishing enterprise until 1955 when Leo Goldberger reassumed his post as editor, in addition to his work as managing editor.

At that time, Milton Goldberger opened his own business, Reporter Publishing Company, which is housed in Memphis with other Goldberger family enterprises, including Tri-State Press and the Hebrew Watchman.

Starting with publication of shopping publications, the Reporter Publishing firm moved into the field of advertising consultants and production and distribution of mail advertising.

Milton Goldberger recalled several years ago that the highlight of his career as editor of the Watchman was preparation of an editorial directed to President Calvin Coolidge involving a woman left behind in Poland after her husband migrated to the United States.

The editorial contained Goldberger’s findings that the wife had been declared to be of too low intelligence to be admitted to the United States and charged an injustice. Goldberger declared he had been surprised that the editorial reached President Coolidge and that action was taken which disclosed that the examining doctor was anti-Semitic. The woman, Esther Weinberg, was admitted and is still living here. The doctor was later recalled from the U.S. Embassy.

Goldberger said he had not been aware of “the full power of the Jewish press on public officials” of the stature of the President of the United States.

He was an active supporter of the B’nai B’rith, especially its youth movement, serving as chairman of the Advisory Board of the AZA. In recognition of 50 years of service to B’nai B’rith, Goldberger received last year a framed certificate.