Benjamin David Schulman

Ben Schulman, age 102, of La Costa, California passed peacefully on June 2, 2019. With him was his devoted companion of many years, Jan Davis. Ben is predeceased by his wife, Ruby; his sisters Sadye, Dorothy, Jean and Margaret and his brother Marvin; his daughter Ellen and son David. He is survived by his sister, Bettie, daughter Karen and sons Henry and Richard; along with five grandchildren, four great grand-children and many nieces and nephews.

Ben was born January 17, 1917 in Decatur, Alabama. His parents were Henry Schulman and Lilly Edelman Schulman. Ben, one of seven children, was 11 years old when his father died. His mother moved the family to Nashville, Tennessee.

He graduated in 1938 from Vanderbilt University with a chemical engineering degree. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve’s new officer training program and would eventually serve as part of the original crew (plank owner) on both the Battleship USS Massachusetts and Battleship USS Missouri. He saw hostile action in both the European and Pacific Theaters in World War II and was in Tokyo Bay aboard the cruiser USS Springfield when the Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945. Shortly thereafter he was released from active duty having obtained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

During his Navy years, Ben met and married Boston-born Ruby Gryzmish in 1944. The couple adopted five children, including a boy and a girl with the initial help from Jewish Family and Children’s Services.

After working for his father-in-laws’ cigar business, JA Cigars, Ben moved into hotel finance with Hotel Corporation of America (later to become) Sonesta International Hotels. He then became founding chairman of Boston’s Liberty Bank & Trust.

Ben and Ruby moved to La Costa, California for the weather and because of their love of golf. Due to his engineering background, Ben became involved in financing of trucks for remote TV broadcasts of sporting and other events. One of his initial clients was ESPN in its infancy. His company, Schulman Mobile Video moved from Anaheim to Hollywood and was one of the longest active independent video production companies in Los Angeles.

After returning from the war, Ruby encouraged Ben to become engaged in helping those less fortunate. The Benjamin D. and Ruby G. Schulman Foundation has supported a variety of institutions and charities including Jewish Family Services in Boston and San Diego, Scripps Clinic of La Jolla, the Carlsbad Library, The Benjamin Schulman Center for Jewish Life (Hillel) at Vanderbilt University, the College of Criminal Justice, Northeastern University, the preservation of USS Massachusetts and the USS Missouri, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

At 90 years old when interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Ben said, “The resources for our gifts came mainly from stock investments. I’ve never made a big tremendous hit, but I’ve plugged along for all these years and have always had more at the end of the day than what I started out with. Today people need more help.”

In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to any of the charities mentioned above.

A private service will be held to honor his life at Eternal Hills.