Funeral Held For Philanthropist "Mr. Bronx"
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On Thursday, mourners gathered to remember Elias Karmon, a longtime Bronx resident, businessman and philanthropist nicknamed "Mr. Bronx." NY1's Borough reporter Dean Meminger filed the following report.A who's who of Bronx leaders gathered in Highbridge Thursday to say goodbye to a friend, an advocate and a philanthropist.
Known as "Mr. Bronx," 98-year-old Elias Karmon is remembered as a real Bronx treasure.
"He was everything, he was smart and witty, very capable and energetic. He was just a wonderful human being," said Beatrice Castiglia-Catullo of RAIN Inc. Senior Services. "They called him Mr. Bronx and that is exactly what he was."
"He was very funny, he always had a twinkle in his eye, he was very full of life. he was grandpa Eli," said Simon Landsberg, Karmon's great-grandson.
Karmon was born in Manhattan's Lower East Side in 1910 but from the 1930s on he worked and lived in the Bronx. He owned successful clothing and real estate businesses.
But he was known as "Mr. Bronx" because he donated money and plenty of time to dozens of community, health and education organizations in the borough for the last 70 years.
"I think he was really ahead of his time in terms of demonstrating to people the acceptance of others and opening up his arms to everybody that this community is made off," said Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson.
"Eli was one of the people you had to get by if you wanted the vote of the neighborhood community," said Bronx Representative Eliot Engel. "When he gave you the good housekeeping stamp of approval, you were okay. if he didn't, you had a little bit of trouble."
Those who were close to Karmon say he wanted to continue working despite any ailments or his age. They joke that a few years ago, Karmon said he needed to update his resume after receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Lehman College."
"In fact I believe that when the ambulance picked him up, they picked him up from his working chair directly to the hospital," said Eliezer Rodriguez, Karmon's friend. "He said the work is piling up and he's got to do it."
Although "Mr. Bronx" may be gone, family and friends say his good deeds will live on.