76:(October 11, 1910 – October 20, 2008), popularly known as "Mr. Bronx", was a businessman, philanthropist, and community leader in the Bronx during much of the 20th century. He made his living in the garment industry, running a retail clothing store in the South Bronx for 40 years. He later invested in Bronx real estate and became involved with many community organizations in the borough. He was a member of the Jackson Democratic Club and a major force in getting black and latino candidates elected to public office.
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In addition to running the store, Karmon served in many positions of community leadership. For four years, from 1978 to 1981, he was the president of The Bronx
Chamber of Commerce, and also served as Treasurer, and as Vice President of the chamber at various times. After the chamber faded from power
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After getting his degree, Karmon followed his parents into the garment industry, getting a job at a wholesale clothing business. The owner died soon after Karmon started working there whereupon Karmon purchased the business and took on a partner. The partnership quickly proved unsuccessful and the
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section of the Bronx, and continued to run his various businesses and real estate ventures in the borough. He was known for throwing himself birthday parties which served as fund raisers for local cultural and social organizations. In 2000,
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business failed. They then decided to open a retail clothing store in the Bronx but Karmon's partner backed out of the deal and Karmon opened
Hollywood Clothes by himself. The store, located on Prospect Avenue and East 163rd Street in the
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Karmon was active in
Democratic politics in the South Bronx. He was a member of the Jackson Democratic Club, which worked to elect black politicians. Karmon and the Jackson Democratic Club were instrumental in electing
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section of the Bronx was opened in the late 1930s and remained in operation until the 1970s. Among the store's regular clients were jazz saxophonist
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in 1959, and served as a board member emeritus until his death. He founded the
Prospect Avenue Merchant's Association. Karmon was active in the
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Karmon endowed the Bronx CUNY Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support for needy students at three schools in the Bronx:
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231:. In 2014, the intersection of Thwaites Place and Barker Avenue was given the honorary designation of "Elias Karmon Way".
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as the first black elected official from the Bronx and the first black member of the
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in the 1990s, Karmon worked with other business leaders and Bronx
Borough President
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482:"Bronx Philanthropist Elias Karmon Gets Pelham Parkway Street Named in his Honor"
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338:"Neighborhood Report: Bronx up Close; Handshakes All Around or Business Leaders"
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to form a replacement organization known as the New Bronx
Chamber of Commerce.
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200:, who was the first Puerto Rican from the Bronx to serve in the Assembly.
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National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People
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American businessman, philanthropist and community leader
266:"Elias Karmon Papers, 1926–2008 · Bronx History Online"
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208:Karmon lived the last years of his life in the
164:. Karmon was popularly known as "Mr. Bronx".
84:Karmon (originally Kaminsky) was born in the
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88:neighborhood of New York to immigrants from
399:"The Wizard of the Bronx: Dr. Elias Karmon"
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397:Rodriguez, Eliezer (September 8, 2014).
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136:Karmon was one of the founders of the
369:Rocchio, Patrick (November 5, 2008).
312:Rocchio, Patrick (October 23, 2008).
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417:"Foundations, Donors Invest in CUNY"
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270:The Bronx County Historical Society
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480:Rocchio, Patrick (July 17, 2014).
371:"Elias Karmon's Legacy Remembered"
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517:People from the Lower East Side
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438:"Bronx Colleges Join Forces"
403:New York Real Estate Journal
336:Kugel, Seth (June 2, 2002).
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512:New York University alumni
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142:Forrest Neighborhood House
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299:Fordham Research Commons
217:read a tribute into the
177:Hostos Community College
314:"Mr. Bronx Passes Away"
194:New York State Assembly
173:Bronx Community College
461:Congressional Record
220:Congressional Record
445:Invest in CUNY News
229:Paramus, New Jersey
225:Cedar Park Cemetery
94:New York University
343:The New York Times
138:Ponce de Leon Bank
131:Adolfo Carrión Jr.
124:Community service
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380:. Retrieved
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162:Urban League
152:, the Bronx
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114:City College
110:Colin Powell
106:Benny Carter
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74:Elias Karmon
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65:(2008-10-20)
23:Elias Karmon
507:2008 deaths
502:1910 births
376:Bronx Times
319:Bronx Times
496:Categories
458:2000
275:2024-09-13
235:References
204:Later life
154:Boy's Club
150:Bronx YMCA
102:Morrisania
80:Early life
54:, New York
44:1910-10-11
183:Politics
120:member.
175:, and
148:, the
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118:ROTC
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60:Died
38:Born
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