Samuel Reiss, well-known American-Jewish translator and linguist, died here today at the age of 59. Mr. Reiss knew 32 languages and was a translator for the Lewis Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as the author of four books on the relationship between language and thought.
Born in Kulikowo, Poland, he came to this country at the age of nine and grew up in New York City. He was a graduate of New York’s City College and also held a degree from the Teachers Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Some of the languages he knew, such as Swahili, Chinese and Greek, he learned on his own.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
