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15665 Pomerantz, Reuben
August 10, 1921 - May 15, 1993

usma1946-G1

 

 MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '94

Reuben Pomerantz No.15665 Class of 1946
Died 15 May 1993 in Washington, D.C., aged 71 years. Interment: Washington Hebrew Congregation Memorial Park, Washington, D.C.

Reuben (Reub) Pomerantz was born in Hartford, Connecticut on 10 August 1921. He grew up in Hartford, graduated from Weaver High School in 1939, entered Trinity College in Hartford immediately after high school and gained a bachelor's degree in chemistry. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, obtained his appointment to West Point and joined the class of 1946 on 1 July 1943.

Life as a cadet offered Reub an opportunity to display the talents that were to characterize him throughout his life: attention to detail and a great imagination. His gregarious outlook soon made him well known among his classmates. Classmate, friend and fellow Quartermaster officer George E. Hall remembered: "During Beast Barracks, Reub received a package of baked goods from home almost every day. During these moments, we learned of Reub's generosity as he shared every crumb of his bounty with his beast hungry classmates. It is not at all surprising that, in later years, this trait would come full circle with his extremely generous contributions in founding the Cadet Jewish Chapel."

Reub made a niche for himself on the Howitzer staff and became business manager. He met the love of his life, Harriet Shapiro, who was from nearby Newburgh, New York. One of his roommates, Warren Jungerheld, recalled: "I remember the many good times with Reub and Harriet. I can remember how impressed I was with the unyielding devotion that characterized their relationship. Reub was a good and loyal friend to me, and l trust l was to him. He truly personified our by words of Duty, Honor and Country, and I was privileged to have known him and called him my friend." At graduation, Reub became a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps.

Following basic schooling at Fort Benning, Georgia and Camp Lee, Virginia, Reub was assigned to the Canal Zone in 1948 as a purchasing and contracting officer. He returned to marry Harriet in Cullum Hall at West Point on 4 July 1948. In 1950, Reub moved to the Office of the Quartermaster, US Army Caribbean. He received a masters in food technology from MIT, and the Pomerantz's traveled to Chicago where Reub was assigned to the Quartermaster Food and Container Institute. The Army began the study of irradiated food in the mid 50s, and Reub was named technical director and deputy commander of the Quartermaster Radiation Planning Agency in Washington in 1956. He served in that capacity for two years before becoming director, Quartermaster Radiation Laboratories at Natick, Massachusetts. In 1962, Reub left the Army to try his hand in civilian life. He maintained his commission in the Army Reserves and retired as a major in 1968.

His first position in civilian life was as special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Science and Technology. After several years with the Department of Commerce, Reub and a friend, Murry Schott, went into business together. Murry recalled: "We spent weekends on end driving around Washington, D.C. with our respective wives, looking for property or business ideas. We were lucky to find a small motel on US Route 1 in College Park Maryland--about a mile from the University of Maryland main campus. With a caretaker, we were able to operate, maintain and pay the taxes on that little motel. In 1967, we tore down the existing cabins and built a 68 unit motel complete with lobby, restaurant, lounge and pool. We got a Holiday Inns franchise and the project was an immediate financial success. We built a second Holiday Inn, and Reuben became active in the national Holiday Inns organization. He served as national treasurer and vice president, heading the Franchise Division. Reuben was a great detail person with the added quality of being imaginative. Reuben participated with great pleasure and enthusiasm at Army reunions. He was one of the founders of the Jewish Chapel at West Point. He and his wife were avid workers and supporters of many Jewish causes, assuming leadership roles with the United Jewish Appeal; the American Society for Technion; the Chiam Weitzman Institute; the Washington Hebrew Congregation; and the State of Israel Bonds. Harriet and Reuben were inseparable. She was at his side always, an aide and assistant to his many endeavors...."

Reuben Pomerantz died 15 May 1993 from pancreatic cancer. He was survived by his wife, Harriet; two daughters, Debra and Sharon; and brother Sydney Pomer. His friend, Murry Schott, commented: "Harriet, whose health seemed very good while caring for him incessantly, died three month later-- also of pancreatic cancer. We miss both of them intensely."

Reuben Pomerantz was proud to be a West Pointer. Reub's friend, George Hall, remembered: "The Reub I knew was fun. He possessed a well developed sense of humor but one that was very subtle and gentle. He was generous to a fault. I never knew him to be angry." Reub was determined to apply the same leadership qualities that served him so well on active duty to his business endeavors. His brother, Sydney, recalled: "In all his business undertakings, he strove for perfection and demanded high standards of performance. He was strong willed; determined to overcome any and all obstacles. He never accepted 'no' as an answer; and to him there was no such thing as impossible. He was the leader for the entire family; a devoted husband, a loving father and always willing and eager to help others. I was blessed and honored to have Reuben as my brother. He was one in a million and we miss him dearly."

The thoughts and respect expressed by Reub's family, friends and classmates are echoed by all who had the privilege of knowing this proud son of West Point. The Class of 1946 is honored to join them in stating: "Well Done, Reub; Be Thou At Peace."


'46 Memorial Article Project and his family

Personal Eulogy

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