Joseph Smukler Esq.

Joseph Smukler Esq.

DIED

2012

Joseph Smukler Obituary

Visit the Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, Inc. - Trevose website to view the full obituary.
Husband of Constance "Connie" (nee Lasch). Father of Andrew M. Smukler (Lisa), Kenneth L. Smukler (Shelly Urban) and Cindy H. Dorani (Ohad Benhamo). Grandfather of Shoval, Omri, Liat, Lucy, Phoebe, Camille, Robert, Jane and Brooke. Relatives and friends are invited to services Sunday July 15, 2012 at 12:00 Noon at Har Zion Temple, 1500 Hagys Ford Road, Penn Valley, PA. Interment Haym Salomon Memorial Park. The family will return to the late residence through Monday Evening and respectfully request that contributions in his memory be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, 2100 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, the National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2517 or to a charity of the donor's choice.Joseph Smukler is a cum laude graduate of Kenyon College, with an A.B. and Highest Honors in Economics. He has an LL.B. from Harvard Law School, a Graduate Diploma in law from Oxford University England and a Doctor of Hebrew Laws (Hon.) from Gratz College. After serving as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, he entered the practice of law at Fox, Rothschild LLP, where he is presently a senior partner and chairman of the Personal Injury Group. In 2004 he was named "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" as selected by his peers statewide, representing the top five percent of lawyers in the Commonwealth, in a joint project of Law and Politics and Philadelphia Magazine. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States as well as numerous Federal Courts of Appeal and District Courts. He is a past president of the following community agencies: Family Service of the Main Line, Jewish Campus Activities Board (Hillel), Association for Jewish Children and the Jewish Community Relations Council, where he is honorary President. He served as Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission, Chairman of Har Zion Radnor Temple, Vice-President of Har Zion Temple, where he is presently a member of its Board of Trustees, Vice-Chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and founding Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Soviet Jewry Council. Joe served on the Boards of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He is a past Chairman of the Board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and is presently Vice President of the National Museum of American Jewish History and Vice-Chair of the Anti-Defamation League. He is a recipient of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's highest honor, the 2003 Avodat Ha Kodesh Community Award and is a member of Central High School of Philadelphia's Hall of Fame. With his wife Constance they received the Soviet Jewry Council Human Rights Award, the Mellon Bank Good Neighbor Award and the State of Israel Bonds Humanitarian Award. Together they chaired the "Israel 50" celebration and the first Philadelphia Jewish Book Fair.

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Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, Inc. - Trevose

4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA 19053

People and places connected with Joseph

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June 12, 2020

jay hyman wh 52 posted to the memorial.

January 31, 2013

Edmund (Ted) Goldsborough posted to the memorial.

July 24, 2012

Buck Riley posted to the memorial.

jay hyman wh 52

June 12, 2020

I knew Joe thru the summers of 49-55 when we worked as waiters at Log Tavern adult resort, Milford, pa where in addition he was on the tennis staff, and thru Harvard Law School where he preceded me by 2 years. I studied from his class notes and they were good. I stayed at his house in Strawberry Mansions, and continued the relation until shotly before his death. He had a fabulous memory and could recite anything, a good lawyer and a great friend to me and the Jewish community.
jay Hyman, HLS '55, wash dc.

Edmund (Ted) Goldsborough

January 31, 2013

Connie Lasch Smukler grew up in Narberth, Pa, where, at Narberth Public School, I knew her as an outstanding student, editor of the student newspaper, and member of the field hockey team. I send my condolences to the Smukler family.

Buck Riley

July 24, 2012

Just learned of Joe's passing from the remembrance in the Legal Intelligencer . Will never forget the times together in days gone by with the Philadelphia Eagles and my treasured friendship with Joe, Connie and Lou and Mildred . Our world is a lesser place with Joe's passing .
Sincerest condolences to Connie and the family .
Buck Riley

July 22, 2012

We never met Connie but Nate and Lil were my aunt and uncle too. Nate, my Mother's Brother. Nate and Lil were always proud of "Joey."

David A. Feldheim

July 17, 2012

My deepest sympathy on the passing of dear Joe. His warmth and love for all people will never be forgotten. My prayers are with you and the family.
Doris Smukler Schor
Warminster, PA

Sunshine Weismehl

July 17, 2012

Dear Connie,
We haven't been together for many, many years. Joseph and you were very kind to my daughter, Mirabai, when she visited Philadelphia for her auditions. Please accept my condolences. I was known to you as Betty Kaplansky.

patricia bell

July 17, 2012

i will miss his smile,kind words and the twinkle he always seemed to have in his eyes.

July 16, 2012

Dear Connie and family,
Neuza and I wish to express our deepest sympathy for Joe's passing.
Bernard and Neuza Smukler

July 16, 2012

Fond memories of Joe from a fellow Central and Kenyon College alumnus. He was full of life and a great guy to be around. Haven't seen him since those days, but remember him with great fondness. My condolences to the family.
Sincerely,
Al Ballard, Central, 189, Kenyon, 1952.

Carole and Brian Cleere

July 15, 2012

Our hearts are saddened today with the loss of this "gutta neshuma' and true "mensch". Brian and I think of Joe and you many times in our daily lives and even though we didn't see him sometimes for years at a time, when we did meet , he always gave us the biggest, warmest hello and feeling that he was truly delighted to see us again. He was a role model in Soviet Jewry, as a lawyer and mentor, and as a proud Jew. Our thoughts are with you and your family. May his memory be for a blessing.
Love,
Carole and Brian Cleere

leon Brown

July 14, 2012

We will miss your kindness and friendly smile. A half century agao we first met and became linked in the Jewish community. Your service to the Jewish refuseniks and State of Israel are a shining exmple for your family Shalom, havrah.

Leon Brown

July 14, 2012

I will miss my longtime friend of more than 45 years. He was a mensch and a getta neshuma. As Joe lwould say in our native tongue, momaluschenm "Ah zoy gaitus."
When we first met we were both young. He was president of the Association for Jewish Children and I was a young editor/columnist for the Jewish Times. Through the years our paths crossed constantly and I marvelled at his dedication and devotion to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. I remember well when the Soviet Jewry Council started. Joe and Connie, along with Leonard Shuster, Malvina Charleston and many others from Har Zion, became the ffirst free the thousands of Jewish refusenicks from the Societ Union.
I also was present with Joe when he suffered his first heart attack at the Holiday Inn in West Philly. God knew he had a lot of living to do and a lot of work ahead.
My deepest condolensces to Connie and his family. He will never be forgotten, but more important we will always remember his smile, goodness and mercy. He was always proud that the Jewish paperhanger's son from Strawberry Mansion became president of the Jewish Federation, and that his portrait hung on the wall with many of the great names of the past.
Shalom Joe.

July 14, 2012

As Joe's younger cousin, I grew up in Lorain Ohio hearing about his outstanding accomplishments and have fond memories of his visits to us and his Grandmother. Only sorry that we had not maintained contact. Sending condolences from the Kaplansky side (his mother's maiden name).
Lynn Gottlieb Barry

MIchele McQuade

July 14, 2012

Mr. Smukler was one of the good guys. Always had a smile and a kind word. I worked with him at Meyer, Lasch, Hankin and Poul many years ago. My condolences to the family.

Linda Ziman

July 14, 2012

Great men like Joe live eternally in the history of humankind.
My love and respect to Connie and the entire Smukler family.
May his memory be a blessing forever.
-Dr. Linda Ziman and family

Joseph Benedetto

July 14, 2012

I am now retired and live in Florida, but keep in touch with my Philadelphia roots and the courts, etc.

Just learned of Joe's passing and it brought back very fond memories of a great guy who treated everyone fairly and with dignity.

I can attest to this as I first met Joe when I came to the USDC and later became the Chief Deputy Clerk of Court.

Joe alweays was what a lawyer should be
as well as an example to be repeated as a good and caring human being.

May his family support each other with
what is needed in these times of need.

Joe Benedetto

Brett Furman

July 14, 2012

I admire all the great work Joe has done for his many causes. My prayers are with your family.

Gary Snyder

July 14, 2012

Dear Connie & family,

Kristi and I wish to express our deepest sympathy for your loss. The Mitzvah's you and your beloved preformed will never be forgotten.

Philip Spitzer

July 13, 2012

He cast a giant shadow. All were blessed to know him.

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June 12, 2020

jay hyman wh 52 posted to the memorial.

January 31, 2013

Edmund (Ted) Goldsborough posted to the memorial.

July 24, 2012

Buck Riley posted to the memorial.