Jack Landman Goldsmith

Birth: Apr. 10, 1910 Death: Mar. 1, 2013

Jack Landman Goldsmith, the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldsmith's Department Store, and a business and civic leader in Memphis for decades, died on Friday in Sarasota, Florida. He was 102 years old. Mr. Goldsmith survived his wife, the late Dorothy M. Metzger. His survivors include his daughter Joan Marks of Sarasota, Florida, and his sons Jack Landman Goldsmith Jr., Larry Goldsmith of Memphis, Tennessee, and Melvin Goldsmith of Longboat Key, Florida. Mr. Goldsmith also leaves ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.He is also survived by his constant companion and caregiver, Betty Ng. Mr. Goldsmith was born in Memphis on April 10, 1910. He attended Culver Military Academy for high school and Washington University and New York University for college. He then received a law degree from Memphis University. Mr. Goldsmith served in the United States Reserves, 81st Division, from 1931-1941, and in the War Department during World War II from 1942-1945. He retired from military service as a Major in the U.S. Army. He also served the U.S. government in the 1950s in U.S. Trade Missions to Greece and Austria. In 1953 he was a delegate to the Tennessee Constitutional Convention. Mr. Goldsmith was the longtime President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldsmith's Department Stores, which were founded in Memphis in 1870 by his grandfather, the German immigrant Jacob Goldsmith, and Jacob's brother Isaac. Mr. Goldsmith continued to run the Department Store after it was purchased in 1959 by Federated Department Stores. (The store was renamed Macy's in 2005). He retired in 1967 and moved to Longboat Key, Florida, where he lived for forty-six years. Mr. Goldsmith was one of the founders of the Goldsmith Civic Garden Center. He also served as a Director of the First National Bank, a Director of the Baptist Hospital, a President of the Tennessee Retail Association, a Trustee of the Brooks Art Gallery, and a President of the Goldsmith Charitable Foundation. In addition, he served as a President of the Cavendish Trading Corporation, a President of the Hotel Gayoso, a President of the Jadora Corporation, a Board Member of the Convent of the Good Shepherd, and a Member of the Building Committee of the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Mr. Goldsmith was also a member of many clubs, including the Memphis Rotary Club, the 100 Club (which he founded), and the Ridgeway Country Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. He also belonged to Temple Israel in Memphis and Temple Beth Israel in Longboat Key, Fla. Funeral Service will be 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 in the Levy-Cooper Chapel at Temple Israel Cemetery. (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, onMarch 4, 2013)