Ellis Goodman
Ellis Goodman was born April 24, 1898. He opened his real estate office at 515 Market Street in Camden in 1926, and moved his business to 427 Market Street sometime in the 1950s. He was also involved in insurance, and was president of the Kaighn Savings and Loan Association.
Ellis Goodman was also an active member of Camden and South Jersey's Jewish community. He was a director of Congregation Beth El, on Park Boulevard across from Farnham Park, and an officer of the Federation of Jewish Charities and the Zionist Organization of America.
Painting by William M. Hoffman, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University.
Ellis Goodman lived during the 1940s and 1950s at 2596 Baird Boulevard in Camden. He lived in Cherry Hill, NJ, in the latter years of his life, and passed away in September 1982.
Ellis Goodman was married to Lillian Rosengarten, daughter of Robert Rosengarten, who was a partner in Dewees & Rosengarten, a typewriter and business machine sales company on Market Street. Lillian Rosengarten Goodman carried the Ellis Goodman realty business forward until her retirement in 2004.
Her Marriage Announced
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Mrs. Goodman before her marriage on Saturday, June 19, was Miss Lillian Rosengarten, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rosengarten, of 1125 Langham avenue, this city. The ceremony was performed by Rabbi Solomon H. Metz, of Washington, D. C. Mr. Goodman is active in Camden civic and fraternal circles, being a member of the Camden County Real Estate Board and a director of the Joint Taxation Committee. He is a past president of the B'nai Brith. With his bride he will reside at 2596 Baird boulevard.
Reflections from Robert M. Rosengarten
My Uncle Ellis Goodman's real estate and insurance business was at 427 Market from approximately 1950 to 1995. My Aunt Lillian Goodman retired officially a few weeks ago. Prior to 1950, Uncle Ellis was at 515 Market. I think he had the building there since 1926 when he went into business.
That fancy marble on the 427 Market façade was custom ordered by my Uncle Ellis when he refurbished the building before moving into it. Aunt Lillian said there was some extra put aside just in case it got damaged. Someone did run into that building damaging a piece last year but the money the insurance company offered to fix it wouldn't touch the cost of repairs, even with the spare marble.
Ellis Goodman was quite a philanthropist. He was a wealthy man but lived fairly conservatively. It is safe to say he contributed millions of dollars to the Zionist movement. I really wish I'd gotten to know him better, but when you're a kid you aren't interested in the same things you are at age 50. Hell of a guy and dearly loved by the Camden Rosengartens!
Uncle Ellis never spoke much of his childhood, but I guess I never asked. I know he came to the United States by way of Toronto, Ontario. He and I were looking at an atlas once as he tried to show me how he got to Camden. I am not sure why Camden—probably he knew someone there. I am guessing it may have been a brother, Morris Goodman who had come to the United States earlier and was in the Philadelphia-Camden area.
Most of Uncle Ellis's family perished in the Holocaust. One sister survived and went to Israel. I don't think he knew exactly what happened till the late 1940s. Aunt Lil said someone in Philadelphia had all the information and they went to see this person. She said she was so scared as she didn't know how Uncle Ellis would react. Two brothers were killed and the one sister escaped into the woods. I guess she lived in the woods and foraged for food at night. I am sure it was at that time my uncle became immersed in the Zionist movement.
— Robert M. Rosengarten, November 2005
Tag: ellis-goodman
Baird Boulevard
Baird Boulevard (originally Baird Avenue) runs diagonally through the Parkside and East Camden neighborhoods, named for Camden businessman and U.S. Senator David Baird Sr. It begins at Kaighn Avenue, crosses the Cooper River and Admiral Wilson Boulevard, and terminates at the intersection of Federal Street and 27th Street in East Camden.
My Camden Heritage
I am sitting in my den and close my eyes, I see the city as it was in my youth and recall the many people that crossed my path.
Ellis Goodman
1950 Courier-Post profile of Camden realtor Ellis Goodman, who had been in business for 24 years at the same location, 515 Market Street.
Willson Says Busiest Month Was in November 'Recession'
Harry A. Willson, retiring president of the Camden County Real Estate Board, said November 1937 was his best month despite talk of a business "recession," and credited the board with defeating a bill that would have restricted real estate transactions to lawyers.
Noted Rabbi Speaks in Camden Tonight
Rabbi Israel Goldstein of New York, president of the Jewish National Fund of America, was to speak at a mass meeting at the Hotel Walt Whitman celebrating the fund's 35th anniversary, preceded by a dinner given by members of Camden's Jewish community.
Committee Studies Tax Rate to Learn of Possible Saving
The Joint Taxation Committee began analyzing Camden's 1936 city tax rate of $4.30 and discussed an annual high school essay award on city and county government, with Carl Evered and Ellis Goodman each pledging $25.
Richards Opens Camden Quarters
State Senator Emerson L. Richards opened his Camden campaign headquarters for the Republican nomination for governor in the Hotel Walt Whitman building, with Jack Weinberg supervising the campaign and naming a committee of 50 business and professional men.
Phila. Rabbi Urges Freedom for Youth
Rabbi William H. Fineshriber of Philadelphia told Camden Lodge, No. 915, Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, that freedom for youth makes for better citizenship than repression, at the installation of Meyer L. Sakin as lodge president in the Hotel Walt Whitman.
Camden B'nai B'rith to Install Officer
Meyer L. Sakin was to be installed president for 1928 of Camden Lodge, No. 915, Independent Order B'nai B'rith, at a meeting at the Hotel Walt Whitman on January 8, 1928.