Michael Ossoff

Michael Ossoff of Annapolis, Maryland died at the Hospice of the Chesapeake, Harwood, Maryland on April 24, 2012 at age 95. Mr. Ossoff was born in Peabody, MA on June 29, 1916 to Annie and Israel Ossoff, the fourth of their eight children. He lived most of his life in Peabody, Beverly, and Ipswich, MA, moving to Naples, Florida full time after his retirement in 1999. He moved to Annapolis in 2006 and had lived at Atria Manresa since 2008.

Mr. Ossoff graduated from Peabody High School in 1934 and attended Boston University and what is now the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. He and his brother, Hyman, founded Ossoff Leather Company in 1947 and built it into a successful sales company for United Tanners of Dover, NH and subsequently, Suncook Tanning of Pittsfield, NH, a firm owned by the Ossoff brothers. Later joined by brothers Melvin and Joseph, the company and the foundation it established have been contributors to a variety of non-profit community organizations in northeastern Massachusetts. Mr. Ossoff was also a founding director of Century Bank in Medford, MA, and served on its Board of Directors for many years. He was a member of the North Shore Shrine Club, the Scottish Rite Bodies of Boston, Temple B’Nai Abraham of Beverly, and the Jubilee Yacht Club of Beverly, where he was a member of the Finance Committee. He and his wife enjoyed many years of sailing in and around the North Shore on their 36 foot ketch, OMER.

Mr. Ossoff was happily married to Eve Kladky of Haverhill, MA from May 14, 1941 until her death on September 2, 2003. They had two children, Martha Ossoff Blaxall (Joe Dickey) of Davidsonville, MD and Robert H. Ossoff of Nashville, TN. Mr. Ossoff also leaves four grand children, Jenifer Blaxall Buice of Brooklyn, NY, Johanna Blaxall Longnecker of Boston, Jacob Ossoff of Chicago, and Leslin Ossoff of Savannah, GA, and four great grandchildren (Meleana and William Buice, and Eve and George Longnecker). He is survived by four siblings, Rebecca Zimmerman of Framingham, MA, Jenny Cox of Cherry Hill, NJ, Melvin Ossoff of Salem, MA and Joseph Ossoff of Beverly, MA, along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Harry Ossoff, Tillie Ossoff Rain, Hyman Ossoff, and Nathan Krugman.

Funeral services for Mr. Ossoff will be held at the Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin Street, Salem, MA at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 27, 2012, with Rabbi Alison Adler of Temple B’Nai Abraham of Beverly officiating. Following burial at Maple Hill Cemetery in Peabody, a Memorial Observance for family and friends will be held at the home of Joseph and Alice Ossoff, 7 Gary Avenue, Beverly, MA 01915. A Memorial Observance will also be held on Saturday evening.

In lieu of flowers, the family knows that Mr. Ossoff would appreciate donations to the Michael M. Ossoff Research Fund in support of The Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's Treatment Center. Checks should be made payable to "Johns Hopkins University" and mailed to: The Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, 100 N. Charles Street, 4th floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. Mr. Ossoff has supported the Center’s programs since 2007.