Danzansky, Joseph B.
From GWUEncyc
Alumni
Joseph B. Danzansky was born on May 16, 1914 in Washington, D.C. to Nettie and Bernard Danzansky. He received his A.B. degree (1935). LL.B. (1936) and received a Distinguished Alumni Achievement award in 1969 George Washington University. During his college years, he served four successive terms as president of his class, and was also a cheerleader. He was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and was active in Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, and was former national president of Phi Alpha (later Phi Sigma Delta). He received the National Distinguished Undergraduate Award in 1932.
Joseph married Ethel E. Gelfand and in the coming years had two sons, Stephen I. Danzansky and Richard F. Danzansky. In 1941 Joseph opened the law firm of Danzansky & Dickey where he practiced until he was elected president of Giant Food Inc. on October 1, 1964. He succeeded N. M. Cohen, co-founder of the company, who assumed the post of Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 1977 Danzansky became chairman of the board of Giant and upon his resignation, in 1978, became chairman of the board of the National Bank of Washington.
Extremely active in the DC community throughout his life, Danzansky was president (1971, 1976) of the Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade, member of the George Washington Board of Trustees (1969-1972), chairman of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (1979), the Business Resource Center (1973-1974), and the Mayor’s Economic Development Committee of the DC (1963-1974), as well as a member of many other organizations. His positive impact on the DC community was immediately evident as numerous organizations and individuals took steps to commemorate his memory. The Danzansky Commemorative Committee was formed and in the coming twelve years it succeeded in honoring his memory by dedicating an amphitheatre at the GWU Law School, funding a symposium on Conflict Resolution at GWU, and placing a commemorative plaque on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Joseph Danzansky died on November 8, 1979.
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Document Location: University Archives
Author or Source: Alumni biographical files
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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