Irv Kosloff

Isadore "Irv" S. Kosloff (May 1912, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – February 1995, Merion, Pennsylvania) was an American businessman and sportsman.

Irving was born in Philadelphia on May 10, 1912, the son of Russian immigrants Lillian and Louis Kosloff. Irving had two brothers, Carl and Charles Kosloff. He graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1930, where he played football and basketball as an offensive center and middle linebacker. Initially, Irv set out to be a dentist. However, due to an injury to his knee, he lost his athletic scholarship to Temple University which he attended for approximately two year but had to drop out and search for a job due to a lack of funds. He found a job in the traffic department of the Container Corporation of America in Manayunk. In 1932, he founded Roosevelt Paper Company on State Road near Cottman Avenue. His company grew to become one of the largest paper merchants in the country.

In May 1963, Kosloff, with the inspiration and aid of high-school classmate attorney Ike Richman, purchased the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball Association from Danny Biasone, brought them to Philadelphia, and changed the team's name to the Philadelphia 76ers.^[1] Richman ran the day-to-day operations of the team, with Kosloff, busy with his growing paper business, remaining the silent partner.

In 1966, Richman died of a heart attack at a 76ers-Boston Celtics game. Kosloff brought in Jack Ramsey to manage the team.

During Kosloff's tenure as owner, the Sixers won an NBA Championship in 1966-67.

In May 1976, Kosloff sold the 76ers to Philadelphia philanthropist Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. for $8 million.^[1]

Kosloff died of leukemia at his home in Merion Station Pennsylvania on Sunday February 19, 1995.

References

External links

• Entry at the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
• Obituary at the New York Times