Axel Rosin

Axel Gerhardt Rosin (December 11, 1907 – March 27, 2007) was a philanthropist, president of the Book-of-the-Month Club and chairman emeritus of the Scherman Foundation.

Axel Gerhardt Rosin
BornDecember 11, 1907
Berlin, Germany
DiedMarch 27, 2007 (age 99)
NationalityAmerican
EducationJ.D. Berlin University
Known forPresident of the Book-of-the-Month Club
Spouse(s)Katharine Scherman
Children2
FamilyHarry Scherman (father-in-law)
Thomas Scherman (brother-in-law)

Biography

Rosin was born in Berlin and graduated from Berlin University with a law degree in 1930.[1] He worked as a lawyer for the Supreme Court of Prussia until 1934, when he emigrated to the United States after the Nazis banned Jews from entering courthouses.[1] He subsequently worked for a shoe manufacturer in Virginia. In 1943 he married Katharine Scherman, and was made comptroller of the Book-of-the-Month Club, which had been founded by Ms. Scherman's father Harry Scherman in 1926.[1] His brother-in-law is conductor Thomas Scherman. Rosin became president of the company in 1960, a position he held until 1973, and was then chairman until his retirement in 1979. His decision in 1967 to pay $250,000 for the right to offer William Manchester's book, The Death of a President as a club selection helped to foster the company's resurgence.[2] During Rosin's leadership the company's annual sales doubled and membership reached 1.25 million.[1]

Overseeing the Scherman Foundation, Rosin was responsible for distributing grant monies to organizations promoting the arts, social welfare programs, the environment, disarmament, and reproductive rights.[1]

He has two daughters with his wife, Karen Rosin Sollins and Susanna Rosin Bergtold.[1]

Notes
  1. Hevesi, Dennis (March 28, 2007). "Axel Rosin, 99, Longtime Head of the Book-of-the-Month Club, Dies". The New York Times.
  2. Los Angeles Times

References
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