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Irwin, Stan
Stan Irwin was born March 28, 1920 in New York City, New York. His life story spans many decades and includes attending New York University, doing stand-up comedy, being a pilot during World War II, working at Club Bingo in Las Vegas, Nevada, and building up the entertainment at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. Irwin was an entertainment manager active in Las Vegas from 1946 until the late 1970s. For many years, he served as the vice president and executive producer of entertainment for the Sahara.
Person
Straus, David, 1964-
David Straus was born November 11, 1964 in Las Vegas, Nevada to Joyce Straus, an artist, and Neil Straus, a doctor. After graduating from Clark High School, he attended the University of Arizona and then Whittier Law School. Straus built a successful legal career focused on estate planning, asset protection and charitable planning.
Person
Benedict, Blaine, 1948-
Blaine C. Benedict, born June 3, 1948, spent his early years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until the family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1950s. His parents, Alvin and Jayne Benedict, followed his paternal grandfather, Meyer (Mike) Benedict, who was involved in gambling and liquor businesses.
Person
Torjman, David
David Torjman was born March 4, 1939 and raised in Fez, Morocco and was educated in trades at the ORT Vocational School. He then studied at Sunderland Talmudical College in England before immigrating to the United States. In 1964, he was recruited to teach at Temple Beth Sholom. Soon after, Torjman met Iris Schwartz who had moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to live with her aunt. Less than two years later, they had a New York wedding and then a local wedding thrown by the Sisterhood at Temple Beth Sholom. Torjman was a Hebrew school teacher until 1975.
Person
Torjman, Iris Schwartz (1947 June 22-)
Iris Torjman was born June 22, 1947 in the Bronx of New York. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966 to live with relatives as a young woman. She met her husband, David, in Las Vegas when they actually lived within blocks of each other in New York. Torjman worked for the Clark County School District as a health aide. She and her husband have been successful in investing in local property and enjoying their retirement.
Person
Friedman, Norma, 1935-
Norma Friedman was born to Rose and Jacob Adler on July 22, 1935 and was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Person
Cohen, Malcom, Rabbi
Rabbi Malcolm Cohen was born on October 7, 1973 in London, England. His mother worked as an office assistant, and his father ran a bookshop and also prepared youth for their bar and bat mitzvahs. It was his father’s dedication to Jewish education and service that influenced his career path. After earning a degree in psychology from Southampton University, Cohen went on to get a professional qualification in youth and community work.
Person
Kogan, Harry
Harry Kogan was born March 11, 1916 to poor Russian immigrant parents in the Jewish ghetto of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kogan sometimes walked to school shoeless, with no hat nor a raincoat. A treat would be his mother handing him ten-cents to go to the theater and enjoy a silent movie. After graduating from high school in 1933, Kogan quickly took one of the rare jobs available in a garment manufacturing company where he worked his way into being a skilled and valued fabric cutter—a job that paid $35 a week.
Person
Katz, Andy
Andrew Scott Katz was born January 9, 1962, in New York City, New York. By 1964, Mike Katz, his father, was well-known in Las Vegas, Nevada for providing an answering service and subsequently for opening the Manpower franchise to serve the growing town. In time, this family business grew and the eldest sons, Bob and Mel opened franchises in Salt Lake City, Utah and San Diego, California, respectively.
Person