By COLlive reporter
Photos by Dov & Shmuel Lenchevsky
Mr. Moshe Duvid (George) Davidsohn, a Jewish philanthropist of Boro Park and Crown Heights, passed away on Shabbos, Cheshvan 4, 5776.
He was 79 and suffered a stroke several years ago.
Born in Montevideo to a Jewish family originating from Transylvania, Davidson’s family moved to New York when he was 10 years old. His father worked as a diplomatic consul.
At 14, Davidsohn started his career on Wall Street as an IBM punched-card clerk, while attending high school at night. He attended Brooklyn College and the New York Institute of Finance.
He started his professional career on Wall Street at Dean Witter and later on founded his own company Davidsohn Computer Services.
For many decades, as his company was thriving, Davidsohn was known as a baal tzedakah, contributing to many diverse causes. He was respected in many different communities, most notably Chabad.
Davidsohn was a congregant in the Bais Medrash of the Liska Rebbe, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedlander, in Boro Park for many years.
At the levaya on Motzoei Shabbos Parashas Noach at Shomrei Hachomos Chapels in Boro Park, the Liska Rebbe delivered a hesped at the levaya, pointing out Davidsohn’s commitment to hiring frum Jews “when it wasn’t fashionable.”
Other words of condolence were delivered by Rabbi Yaakov Leifer, Rabbi Yehoshua Balkany, Dean Bais Yaakov of Midwood and Davidsohn’s son Yossi Davidsohn.
Kel Malleh was delivered by the famous cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot and Tehillim was recited by Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Director of Colel Chabad.
Davidsohn is survived by his wife, Denise (Shaina Dina) and children: Yossi Davidsohn – Brooklyn, Rochel Leah Jaffe – Crown Heights, Breindy Lezell – Crown Heights, Esther Schwab – Miami, FL, Fruma Cohen – Miami, FL and Chana Mayberg – Miami FL, as well as many grandchildren.
The family will be sitting shiva at the Jaffe home, 529 Brooklyn Ave. 3C.
Monday Shivah will be from 12:00pm – 4:00pm and 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Tuesday -Thursday 10:00am – 4:00pm and 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Donations in his memory can be given to Crown Heights Hatzolah.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
I will always remember the gleam in your eye, the skip in your step, the chessed in your lev an amazing family man, an amazing community man. Our time was brief, too short but very meaningful. Our conversations deep, insightful and never without a joke.I will treasure them eternally. May Hashem bless you my dear friend and mentor with shalom, with an aliyah. May your efforts here be for continued good and may bountiful spiritual success and rectification continue in your merit. To your family…I wish you shalom and comfort, G-d Bless you all . With gratitude Elyse ‘Elisheva’ Hansford
To Denise, Joseph and Family, George will be remembered in my heart always. He gave me my start in the financial services industry 39 years ago and was always a source of good will and inspiration throughout our 10 years together at Davidsohn Group and as a colleague and business associate later on. I remember many great stories from our early years of his encouragement and support. I could never thank him enough. I’ll always remember that special twinkle in his eyes. May he rest in peace.
Alan Streeter
He will be missed by all who knew him. George will be remembered as a great family man as well as an innovator and is honored for his contribution to our technology industry.
A man who will be remembered as a dear friend.A man who wall st will remember. my prayer are with him rest in peace.
God Bless you
Your old Friend;; Tony
Unfortunately I was not able to be at the levaya, thank you for sharing the video here on COL, at least we were able to participate in spirit. As a Mechutin of Gorge, I can say he was a most special Mentch. Someone who would go out of his way when he would see someone in need. to help them in a most kind fashion. He was a true example of a Ish Chesed, A man with a warm, good, and generous heart. Bh he had the Zechus to see his children following in his path. May he continue to… Read more »
George was a magnificent man, he gave many people a new lease on life. His kindness and generosity will be missed.
May he Rest In Peace.
Uncle George Was the best uncle I had in New York he was a Baal hessed every year we went to visit him we loved to go to his house always with a smile and funny things always with jokes he gave us to eat he was the best!!!
Tia DEnisse hashem should be with you I miss you
May he rest in peace bh
A friend of over 50 years — I worked with him at Dean Witter and for him with two of his companies (and with Yossi now) — he was a man of intelligence, vision, and charity.
So sad
A man larger than life
and to his employees, a father figure in every sense of the word.
I’m eternally grateful.
George was a very special person. He was a giving person and a menche. He provided parnasa to many people. I recall how he would let people train and learn the business in the office without asking anything from them. To me, I always felt that George looked out for me and made sure I was ok. I felt at home in the office and felt like he was extended family to me and my family. He also made sure that I was involved in many significant projects and learned a lot doing them. George, I will miss you, they… Read more »
I met George in 1962 on my first day starting at Dean Witter. He was a genius in the field of brokerage systems even though DW was still on punch cards. My wife Anne and I never missed the chance to see George when we returned to New York from home in California. He was always gracious, funny and loving as is his make-up. When we were on our way to Europe he always gave me a ten or twenty to give to anyone we saw on any street in need. I think we did that about 6 times. Whoever… Read more »
George Davidsohn was a good man. He helped to automate
many Wall Street Firms. He was generous and friendly.
You could always rely on George to solve a problem.
May he rest in peace, Amen.
I was blessed to grow up as his close family friend and neighbor. In his humble and quiet way, he helped many families by giving jobs to hemishe young men in the IT field before it became the ” norm”. This helped may people launch thier careers. That is the greatest chesed. He was a class act- I never heard him speak disparagingly about another person. He was a true visionary in his field and he always worked to make those around him comfortable and happy. Although he was in the big leagues of IT at the time ( he… Read more »
george was an ish emes and a baal chesed
nay his family know no more tzar
George also gave me my 1st job. I am forever grateful.
G-d bless you George
והקיצו ורננו שוכני עפר, תיכף ומיד ממש בגאולה האמיתית והשלימה.והוא בתוכם
He lived like God wants us all to live with s generous HEART. May he rest in peace and his loved ones be consoled with their memories of him. God bless you all, you are in our prayers.
George was a man of faith. He had faith in himself. He had faith in his family. He had faith in his friends. He had faith in a lot of young people with no experience. He had faith in God. I think the totality of the men can be captured in his faith.
He was a great father, grandfather , friend and above all a truly GOOD human being . I will miss him dearly and he will be in my daily prayers.
ed but
I remember meshulachim constantly coming to the office to see him….
one purim he gave me a large sum of money to take to the bank to get smaller bills and coins to distribute to tzedaka.
a big baal tzedaka and baal chesed
A friend of over 50 years — I worked with him at Dean Witter and for him with two of his companies (and with Yossi now) — he was a man of intelligence, vision, and charity.
Thanks AYL, I thought about you among number of my friends who were able to launch good career thanks to him, nearly straight from Yeshiva or Kolel, passing by college. Which helped reinforcing Tora study among bochrim that don’t intend to be shluchim or Rabbis.
All my wealth I have now, is thanks to him. I was one of the first chasisshe person he hired. I was with him almost all my working life. He gave jobs to a lot of religious people.
He had a golden heart and a pure hidishe neshmo. BDH
So sad to discover George’s passing years later. He was good hearted, generous and kind to me and my father back on Nassau St. Gave me my first job almost 50 yrs ago, although I had no experience. Very patient and supportive with me, and will remember him in my prayers. I recall learning a lot about Judaism from him and the gentlemen he hired in the IT department, he was very inspirational.
he gave me my first job. i am forever greatful.
G-d bless you George
He was an inspiration to all those that knew him, and to all those who didn’t know him, all you need to do is read the above comments to be inspired. He will truly be missed.
A true tzadik and a jem of a man, husband, father, grand father.
Chanan
He helped me get my first computer job over 30 years ago when it was difficult to get a job without experience. Remember him about 45-50 years ago in Flatbush/Kensington. Such a sweet guy. BDE.
HE started off many people with careers in the IT Field which is better then giving Tzedeka.
Haaamokom Nachem eshem…
So sad
Our hearts are with you
Such a special kind good hearted loving father and grandfather! May he be a Gutte Better for the family
May you know only good always!
May you be comforted with Tzion and Yerushalayim.
Hamakom yenachem eschem.
baruch dayan haemes.
his family should know of no more tzaar.
So sorry to hear. May Hashem comfort Yossi and the rest
of the family.
Gave lots of people (mostly Jewish) job and start of career.
Pioneered number of concepts in the electronic trading technology.