Sol M. Stroock Dead

Sol. M. Stroock, President of the American Jewish Committee, a leading member of the American Bar and one of the outstanding Jewish leaders in the United States, died early today of a heart attack at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., where he was vacationing. He would have been 68 years old on September 22nd.

Mr. Stroock was as well known for his activities in Jewish charities and in organisations devoted to educational, economic and historical studies as in his profession. He served as president of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies several times. Together with Louis Marshall, Felix Warburg and Cyrus Adler he laid the foundation for the establishment of the Jewish Agency for Palestine. He was president of the Y.M.H.A. of New York, president of the Metropolitan League of Jewish Community Associations, member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Geographical Society, the American Historical Association, the American Economic Association and the Harmonie Club.

During the last eight years – the most critical in Jewish history – Stroock devoted himself to the fight against Nazi propaganda and anti-Semitism. As head of the American Jewish Committee he delivered a number of radio addresses against Nazi brutalities and took a special interest in the Jewish situation in various European countries.

Mr. Stroock was the author of a book “Switzerland and American Jews.” For many years he was the treasurer of the Jewish Theological Seminary and chairman of its board of regents. He had been a member of the bar since 1894.

The funeral will take place tomorrow at 2 p.m. from Temple Emanu-El. He is survived by his wife, Hilda Weil Stroock, a daughter, Minette Stroock Kuhn and a son, Alan M. Stroock.

GOVERNOR LEHMEN LAUDS STROOCK’S DEVOTION AND ABILITY

Governor Lehman, in a message to Mrs. Stroock, stated: “I am inexpressibly shocked and grieved to hear of the great sorrow that has come to you. I had the privilege of your husband’s friendship for many years and had the greatest affection and respect for him. No one served his fellow men with greater devotion and ability. He was a great leader whose wisdom, vision and loyalty all of us will miss beyond measure.”

“HE WAS A DEVOTED SERVENT OF ISRAEL,” RABBI WISE SAYS

Dr. Stephen S. Wise, President of the American Jewish Congress, sent the following message: “The American Jewish Congress expresses its deepest sympathy to the American Jewish Committee on the death of its beloved president, Sol M. Stroock. He was a great.

GENERAL JEWISH COUNCIL MOURNS LOSS OF STROOCK

Edgar J. Kaufmann, Chairman of the General Jewish Council, issued the following statement: “The General Jewish Council joins American Jewry in mourning the loss of Sol M. Stroock, President of the American Jewish Committee, whose sudden passing deprives the Jewish community of America of a highly esteemed and valued leader, American Jewry can best pay its tribute to the memory of this outstanding American by unitedly carrying on with unabated zeal the the work to which he devoted so much of his life.”

“A GREAT COMMUNAL LOSS,” SAYS GEORGE BACKER

George Backer, president and editor of the New York Post, stated: “I have been shocked by the news of Mr. Stroock’s death. The communal loss in which we all share is for me heightened by a sense of personal deprivation. To all of us his passing removes from our midst a wise, modest and charming man.”

JDC OFFICERS SADDENED. HYMAN STATES

Mr. Joseph C. Hyman, on behalf of the Joint Distribution Committee, sent the following message to Mrs. Stroock: “At a meeting of the officers and executive committee of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee today we were greatly saddened by the news of the passing away of your dear husband. He was to us all, in our many problems, a kindly guide and friend whose wisdom, broad humanity, tolerance and insight enabled us to overcome many difficulties. Eech of us feels that he has lost a friend and leader. We shall miss him sorely. To us all, to this community, to this country, he symbolized the highest ideals of American citizenship and devotion and deep Jewish feeling. May I, on behalf of our entire organization, and personally, convey to you and to all the members of your family our deepest sympathy and tell you how much we all share in the sense of overwhelming loss that has come to you.”

Leading Jewish organizations today continued to send messages of condolence to the bereaved family. Statements from various Jewish leaders in all parts of the country were also received by the JTA. They will be published tomorrow.