San Francisco County
Biographies
LOUIS R.
LURIE
Louis R. Lurie, who is the president of The Lurie Company in San Francisco, is numbered among those citizens to whom the unprecedented growth of this city during the last decade is attributed.
Mr. Lurie was born in Chicago, Illinois, September 6, 1888, and is a son of the late Robert and Lena (Jaffe) Lurie. The parents were born in Bohemia, were there married, and came to the United States in 1872. They settled in the city of Chicago, where the father followed his trade as watchmaker and jeweler. In the later years of his life, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he also continued in his life’s vocation until his death on December 27, 1916, when he had reached the age of seventy. His wife died in 1918, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, all of whom survive except one son.
Louis R. Lurie, who was the fourth child in order of birth, had little opportunity for an education. When a mere child of six years, he was compelled to begin work, in order to assist in the support of the family, selling newspapers on the streets of Chicago. Hard work it was through long, grinding hours, but in the seven years that he clung to this task his earnings were of great assistance. Although he was deprived of academic training, he learned many things during these years which have been real and valuable assets to him in subsequent years, and have been responsible in great measure for his rise in the business world. When he was twelve years old, he realized the need of a change in occupation, and accordingly gave up the news sales work. He secured employment in a Chicago stationery and printing office, where he received the wage of three dollars per week. This was less than his former earnings, but he was willing to take less in order to better his opportunities, and this judgment eventually proved to be entirely correct. He remained ten months with his employer, and his earnings were increased to eight dollars per week. Also he had acquired a knowledge of the printing business sufficient to justify his resignation and a venture on his own responsibility. He had accumulated fifty dollars by careful saving, and with this sum he bought a second-hand press and other equipment, all hand-operated machinery. He rented quarters in the Marine building on the corner of La Salle and Lake streets in Chicago, and here continued successfully as a printer from 1902 until 1905. Then, having saved a considerable sum and having the opportunity to sell his business profitably, he accordingly disposed of it. He made his way westward to Seattle, Washington, where he established a modern printing plant, operated it for five years and then sold out. His next location was Vancouver, British Columbia, where he started in real estate operations. His business sagacity again led him to substantial gains, and he continued there until the outbreak of the World war. To avoid the loss which the war conditions made inevitable, Mr. Lurie sold out this interests in Canada and came to San Francisco, where he was a stranger. Confidence he had, however, and a knowledge of his achievements in other cities, so he was not discouraged. Within a short time, he was engaged in promoting, financing and building large structures in San Francisco, and he now holds an enviable record by his share in building up the down-town properties of the city. His enterprises which he has financed, built and sold number over two hundred, most of them being leading office and commercial buildings. Among those of recent construction are the Pacific National Bank building at 333 Montgomery street, and the Title Insurance & Guaranty building at 130 Montgomery street, two of the most modern structures in the city. Mr. Lurie is a director of the Pacific National Bank, also in the Bank of America. He is a special partner in the New York Stock Exchange house of Samuel Ungerleider & Company. For his offices, Mr. Lurie occupies the entire eighteenth floor of the Pacific National Bank building.
In San Francisco, on May 21, 1918, Mr. Lurie was united in marriage to Miss Babette Greenbaum, who was born in this city, and is a daughter of the late Alfred and Celeste (Levy) Greembaum. Mrs. Lurie’s maternal grandfather, Samuel Levy, was a prominent pioneer of the city and was the founder of the San Francisco Jewish Orphan Asylum. Mr. and Mrs. Lurie have one son, Robert Alfred, who was born January 18, 1928. They make their home in the Mark Hopkins Hotel.
Mr. Lurie is a stanch republican in politics and has served as treasurer of the California state central committee. His religious affiliation is with the Temple Emanu-El congregation. He has become well known in social affairs of San Francisco, and holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Lake Merced Golf and Country Club; the St. Francis Yacht Club; the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce; the San Francisco Real Estate Exchange; the Press Club; and the City Athletic Club of New York city. As a relaxation from his many business cares, he has indulged whenever possible in outdoor life.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 326-328.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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