Arthur H. Jaffe
Arthur H. Jaffe, 93, passed away peacefully Sunday at his home in Delray Beach, Fla., after a short illness.
Mr. Jaffe was born in Butler to the late Israel Max Jaffe and Fannie Posner Jaffe.
He had a varied and distinguished life and was a former resident of Pittsburgh.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in classical studies from Penn State in 1942 and studied modern Hebrew literature at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Mr. Jaffe served as an Army intelligence and infantry captain during World War II and participated in the Battle of Europe after the landing at Normandy. He subsequently joined the Haganah, the Jewish Defense Force, from 1946 to 1948, engaged in the struggle for the establishment of the State of Israel.
Mr. Jaffe was a partner in a family business, I.M. Jaffe & Sons, which operated retail stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, for 30 years.
Upon his retirement, he became director of endowments for the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, and was also involved in the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh. His many honors include a Bronze Star for his wartime service, the Israel Defense Medal, the Silver Medallion from the Broward/South Palm Beach Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the Legion of Honor from France in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of that nation during World War II. He recently received an honorary doctoral degree and a President's Distinguished Service Medallion from Florida Atlantic University.
Upon his move to Florida, he became a founding director of the Jewish Community Foundation of South Palm Beach County. His last crowning achievement was the establishment of the Arthur & Mata Jaffe Center for Book Arts, at Florida Atlantic University, which was initially endowed with Mr. Jaffe's private collection.
Upon receiving an honorary doctorate in humane letters from FAU in 2011, Mr. Jaffe said, “If I was able to do some good things, it was because others were helping me, and because I was willing to accept their help. Success is only made possible through cooperation. It is never something that is achieved by one person alone.”
Mr. Jaffe is survived by his children, Jeanne Jaffe of Philadelphia, Jonathan Jaffe of San Francisco, Calif., Joel Jaffe of Houston, Texas, and Julie Jaffe of Vashon Island, Wash. Mr. Jaffe is also survived by his stepson, Steven Loevner of Pittsburgh; his stepdaughter, Peggy Sloane of Philadelphia; his eight grandchildren; his brother, Norman D. Jaffe of Pittsburgh, and his numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois Silverstein Jaffe; his second wife, Mata Loevner Jaffe; his stepgrandson, Michael Gardner; his sister, and three brothers.
Jaffe— There will be no public visitation for Arthur H. Jaffe, who passed away Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015.Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler, with the Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer of Congregation of B'nai Abraham officiating. A graveside service will follow at B'Nai Abraham Congregation Cemetery, Butler.Memorial donations in Arthur's name are suggested to the Jaffe Center for Book Arts at Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.
