LEON
LEON DWORKIN
DWORKIN
Born on December 9, 1919 to Russian immigrants Morris and Rose Dworkin, Leon's life was shaped by those unique American experiences which made him typical of what is often described as the greatest Generation.
A product of the Great Depression, Mr. Dworkin learn-ed generosity from his parents who gave away food to needy neighbors from their grocery store in the Camden New Jersey. After graduating at the top of his class from Camden High School, he attended University of Pennsylvania where he received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineer-ing. Not long after his gradu-ation, on December 7th 1941, the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor prompting Mr. Dworkin to work at a Grumman Aircraft factory in Baltimore as an inspector helping to manu-facture airplanes for the war effort. In 1942 despite a military deferment and pleas from his parents, he, like his brother Harry, would volunteer for the U.S. Army Air Force. Leon attained a rank of Second Lieutenant and as a B-17 pilot flew bombing raids with the 8th Air Force out of England; Leon flew 17 missions over Germany.
After the War he became an engineer at Sinclair Oil Refinery in Marcus Hook where he worked on and designed many techniques to transform the facility from the batch process-ing of petroleum to that of a continuous process. A few years later, Leon attended a synagogue dance in Camden New Jersey and met his future wife, Helen Renee Long; they were married on Sept. 19, 1948.
On January 2, 1950 Mr. Dworkin's normal life took an extraordinary turn which put his character to test. While on a ferry from Bridgeport NJ to Chester PA, the boat collided with a freighter causing an elderly man to be thrown into the icy waters of the Delaware River. Without concern of his own life, Leon Dworkin jumped from the upper deck into the swirling river to save the man. Mr. Dworkin received both the Sinclair AA Award and accom-modation from the Delaware River Port Authority and U.S. Coast Guard. Over the follow-ing years when asked about this experience, Leon would recount that while waiting for a boat to retrieve him from the water (as his arms and fingers became too swollen and numb to wrap a sling around himself) he was certain he would not make it. Despite the circumstances Mr. Dworkin never let go of the unconscious man and kept his face out of the water.
A few years after this event, Mr. Dworkin with a friend, Robert Cetlin, started a scrap metal company, Salem Iron & Metal, which eventually located and operated on the West End of Chester. This business enabled Mr. Dworkin to raise a family with three boys, Lawrence, Gerald and Ross and help them start careers as a lawyer, physician and engineer. In addition to raising his own children, Mr. Dworkin also donated time to the B'nai Brith Youth Organization as an advisor to teenage boys for almost 20 years.
Upon his retirement in 1986, Mr. Dworkin spent much of his time doing what he loved best, swimming on the beaches of Ventnor New Jersey, filming video of his family, spending time with his wife, and continually being with his three children, their wives and his 8 grandchildren Jonathon, Ian, Amanda, Erica, Leah, Myles, Mara Jo and Zachary and his sister Betty, who also survives him. He will always be loved and missed by those who knew him.
Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Wednesday, 1 P.M. precisely, at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 2 Chester Road, Wallingford PA. Interment Har Zion Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the residence of Ross and Doreen Dworkin Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings only.
Born on December 9, 1919 to Russian immigrants Morris and Rose Dworkin, Leon's life was shaped by those unique American experiences which made him typical of what is often described as the greatest Generation.
A product of the Great Depression, Mr. Dworkin learn-ed generosity from his parents who gave away food to needy neighbors from their grocery store in the Camden New Jersey. After graduating at the top of his class from Camden High School, he attended University of Pennsylvania where he received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineer-ing. Not long after his gradu-ation, on December 7th 1941, the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor prompting Mr. Dworkin to work at a Grumman Aircraft factory in Baltimore as an inspector helping to manu-facture airplanes for the war effort. In 1942 despite a military deferment and pleas from his parents, he, like his brother Harry, would volunteer for the U.S. Army Air Force. Leon attained a rank of Second Lieutenant and as a B-17 pilot flew bombing raids with the 8th Air Force out of England; Leon flew 17 missions over Germany.
After the War he became an engineer at Sinclair Oil Refinery in Marcus Hook where he worked on and designed many techniques to transform the facility from the batch process-ing of petroleum to that of a continuous process. A few years later, Leon attended a synagogue dance in Camden New Jersey and met his future wife, Helen Renee Long; they were married on Sept. 19, 1948.
On January 2, 1950 Mr. Dworkin's normal life took an extraordinary turn which put his character to test. While on a ferry from Bridgeport NJ to Chester PA, the boat collided with a freighter causing an elderly man to be thrown into the icy waters of the Delaware River. Without concern of his own life, Leon Dworkin jumped from the upper deck into the swirling river to save the man. Mr. Dworkin received both the Sinclair AA Award and accom-modation from the Delaware River Port Authority and U.S. Coast Guard. Over the follow-ing years when asked about this experience, Leon would recount that while waiting for a boat to retrieve him from the water (as his arms and fingers became too swollen and numb to wrap a sling around himself) he was certain he would not make it. Despite the circumstances Mr. Dworkin never let go of the unconscious man and kept his face out of the water.
A few years after this event, Mr. Dworkin with a friend, Robert Cetlin, started a scrap metal company, Salem Iron & Metal, which eventually located and operated on the West End of Chester. This business enabled Mr. Dworkin to raise a family with three boys, Lawrence, Gerald and Ross and help them start careers as a lawyer, physician and engineer. In addition to raising his own children, Mr. Dworkin also donated time to the B'nai Brith Youth Organization as an advisor to teenage boys for almost 20 years.
Upon his retirement in 1986, Mr. Dworkin spent much of his time doing what he loved best, swimming on the beaches of Ventnor New Jersey, filming video of his family, spending time with his wife, and continually being with his three children, their wives and his 8 grandchildren Jonathon, Ian, Amanda, Erica, Leah, Myles, Mara Jo and Zachary and his sister Betty, who also survives him. He will always be loved and missed by those who knew him.
Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Wednesday, 1 P.M. precisely, at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 2 Chester Road, Wallingford PA. Interment Har Zion Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the residence of Ross and Doreen Dworkin Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings only.
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