Working my way through college

News of prominent NYC business woman and Jewish philanthropist, Helene Fortunoff’s death brought back memories of working in the Fortunoff family business during my college years in the 1960s.

Helene was the last of the second generation of matriarchs of a very successful family of retailers who created a mini-retail empire, a model and forerunner for the Walmart and Target stores, which today dominate the big box retail business

Soon after graduation from high school in June 1960, I landed a summer job in a warehouse and housewares store owned by Helene’s husband, Alan Fortunoff. The store wa...