Murray L. Rosen; Past Veterans Commander

Murray L. Rosen, past national commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, has died at his North Hollywood home. He was 64.

Rosen died Sunday of heart failure, said his son, Ross Rosen.

Born March 4, 1926, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he served in the U.S. Army as a paratroop sergeant in Europe in World War II. He was a 43-year member of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, working his way up the ranks in New York as commander of a Brooklyn post, and the county and state organizations during the 1960s. In 1967, he received an award from then-President Lyndon Johnson for instituting a program to send gifts to military personnel in Vietnam.

Rosen moved to California in 1969 and later became commander of the Studio City, Los Angeles County and state organizations of the JWV. During the 1980s, he held various positions at the national level, serving as national commander from August, 1989, until August of this year. Earlier this year, Rosen met with President Bush, former President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney to discuss veterans affairs. He retired from the retail shoe business in 1987.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lila Rosen; sons Ross Rosen of North Hollywood and David Rosen of La Crescenta; and four grandchildren.

A funeral was held Wednesday with burial at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills. Groman-Eden Mortuary in Mission Hills handled the arrangements. Donations can be sent in Rosen’s name to the Jewish War Veterans U.S.A. National Memorial 1811 R St., Washington, D.C. 20009.