Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Candidates
    • House Candidates
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Analysis
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / In Memory of Jerome Grossman

December 19, 2013

In Memory of Jerome Grossman

Jerome Grossman, former chairman of Council for a Livable World from the Boston area, passed away yesterday at the age of 96.

Jerry was a writer, lecturer, radio commentator, activist and former businessman. His wife Roslyn, to whom he was married for 69 years, passed away in 2011.

A passionate advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons, Grossman served as Executive Director and President of both the Council and Council for a Livable World Education Fund from 1980 – 1991 and as the Chairman of the Council’s Board of Directors from 1991 to 2006. He took over when the Council was struggling financially and nursed the organization to health and renewed growth.

Grossman loved coming to Washington, D.C. to meet with Senators and Representatives to discuss key national security issues. Visiting the nation’s capital was his opportunity to persuade Senators to reduce nuclear weaponry and adopt sensible national security policies and to make sure that these issues forced their way onto the Senators’ agenda.

Grossman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Max and Mary Grossman. He graduated from Harvard University in 1938. From 1944 to 1975, he owned and operated Massachusetts Envelopes Company, a producer of envelopes and related products.

Grossman spent his life fighting for equality, peace, and a future free of nuclear weapons. In 1969, he founded the Vietnam Moratorium Movement. Grossman was active in many political campaigns to elect strongly pro-peace candidates, including the 1968 McCarthy for President campaign, the 1970 Robert F. Drinan for Congress campaign and the 1972 McGovern for President campaign.

Grossman also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, chaired the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union and was the founder of Massachusetts Political Action for Peace. He toured the country promoting the nuclear weapons freeze movement person-to-person.

As a businessman in the 1940s, Grossman hired members of underrepresented groups like African Americans and women, despite opposition. Throughout his career in politics he continued to fight for fair representation in the Democratic Party.

Grossman wrote the book Relentless Liberal, published by Vantage Press in 1996, as well as numerous articles in publications like The Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, and the Notre Dame Law School Journal.

The funeral will be held Sunday, December 22, at 11:00 AM, at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446 | 617-277-8300.

The family has asked that any donations in Jerry’s memory go to Council for a Livable World. To contribute, click here.

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and well wishes in the comments section, below.

Posted in: Blog

Tweets by Livable World

Recent Posts

  • Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder March 15, 2023
  • House Elections: Democratic and Republican Target Seats March 13, 2023
  • An early look at the 2024 House elections March 7, 2023
  • An early glimpse at 2024 Senate elections February 21, 2023
  • Press the Button: The Clock is Ticking February 14, 2023
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy