Myron Feldman

Myron “Mike” Feldman, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and well-known business leader in the wine and spirits industry, died peacefully in his sleep on February 28th, 2022. Born August 2nd, 1923, in Bayonne, NJ, Mike was the third of four sons born to Annie Hiller Feldman and Max Feldman. In 1943, Mike graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, then enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served during the Second World War as a Navy Specialist, Second Class, stationed in Washington, D.C. In 1945, he married Nettie Weinstock; they settled in Elizabeth, NJ, and had two children: Ben James, in 1948, and Allison, in 1951.

After the war, Mike went to work punching cards in the IBM room at the F&A (Feldman & Altschuler) Distributing Company, the New Jersey liquor distributor co-founded by his father in 1936. Mike would go on to serve the company as a salesman, sales manager, President, and, starting in 1983, Vice Chairman of the Board. The F&A went on to consolidate with three other wholesalers, becoming Allied Beverage Group—the largest wine and spirits wholesaler in New Jersey—where Mike continued to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board.

In 1960, Mike became the second youngest ever President and Chairman of the Board of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, and, in the years following, Director of the organization’s New Jersey chapter. He was also a founding member of the Sommelier Society of New Jersey; a twenty year Trustee of what was then known as the Local #1 and Local #2 of the Warehouseman’s Union; and a Director of two banks, including the Broadway National Bank of Bayonne. He was also a long term member of Congregation B’Nai Israel in Milburn, NJ, and a generous contributor to many charities. In addition to Jewish and humanitarian causes, Mike loved animals: donations in his honor can be made to the International Rescue Committee, the World Central Kitchen, and the Elephant Sanctuary.

He is predeceased by his wife of over 74 years, Nettie Weinstock Feldman, and his older brothers and sisters-in-law Dr. Emmanuel Feldman and his wife Florrie, and Dr. Matthew Feldman and his wife Shirley. He is survived by his younger brother Edward Feldman and sister-in-law Ruth Feldman of Voorhees, NJ; his son Ben James Feldman and daughter-in-law Susie Ellis Feldman of Athol, MA; his daughter Allison Feldman LeVine and son-in-law Peter LeVine of Longmont, CO; his grandchildren Joshua Feldman, Tabitha Feldman (Eric) DeHays, Max (Lynne) Feldman, and Rebecca LeVine; great-grandchildren Aidan DeHays, Kenyon DeHays, Samuel Feldman; and Elliott Feldman; and many nieces and nephews.