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| David Podolsky 1872-1945 |
David Podolsky was born in Vilna, Russia (now Vilnius, Lithuania) on April 14, 1872, the son of Gershon and Fruma Podolsky. He was a graduate of the Vilna and Slabodka Yeshivas.
He emigrated to the United States in 1896, leaving his wife Fanny and an infant son Isadore behind until he established himself here; they followed in 1899. From 1901 to 1909, they had three daughters. David and Fanny lived in New York City for the rest of their lives.
Until 1901, David Podolsky was in the jewelry business, but later devoted himself to real estate, in which he became very successful. Among other ventures, he and partners bought the famous Luxor Baths Hotel in New York in 1924. He was president of that hotel until his death on December 23, 1945.
Having seen pogroms in Russia and later the rise of Nazism, he became an ardent Zionist, starting in Russia and throughout the rest of his life in America. In Russia he helped found and served as an officer in the original Zionist group, Chovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion). In America he served as an officer in the Herzl Zion Organization of America, the Palestine Foundation Fund, the Jewish National Fund of America, and the Order of the Sons of Zion. He was also a delegate to numerous World Zionist Congresses in Europe.
George Turin is the son of the first of David and Fanny's daughters, Lillian. He was named after David's father, Gershon, which is George's Hebrew name.