Sam Freedman
Eleven-year-old Sam Freedman entered the Home in 1928 from Houston, Texas. His father, Morris, who was separated from Sam’s mother, the former Polly Rosenblum, had been hospitalized for tuberculosis. Although Sam had three brothers, they were too old to be admitted.
Sam attended Isidore Newman School through seventh grade, but because of his poor grades, transferred briefly to S.J. Peters Commercial High School and then to Delgado Central Trades School. Because he also performed poorly at those schools, he spent his last year working for resident engineer Bill Parker assisting the Home’s maintenance staff.
Sam left the Home in 1934, and returned to his remarried mother. He later moved to New York before being drafted for World War II, in which he served as a Technician Fourth Grade in the Army. He died in 1997 while living in Miami.
Sam Freedman, a World War II Army veteran, was buried in Florida National Cemetery. From Find A Grave.
In Sam's Words
In 1983, JCRS Executive Director Viola Weiss interviewed Sam Freedman about his childhood in the Home. Read Viola’s summary of the interview (in which Sam recalls his parents, Home staff, Uncle Harry Ginsburg, his schooling, and more) here.