Martin Odlen
MARTIN ODLEN was born in Philadelphia PA in 1916 to Robert & Fannie Odlen. His father had come to America from Russia as a boy in 1908, had already gone into business by 1920, when the family was living at 4031 Poplar Street. By 1930 Robert Odlen brought his family to Camden, where he was the president of the General Iron Works at 407–21 Atlantic Avenue. The company made steel columns and beams to engineers’ specifications so that they could be used immediately in building projects. Robert Odlen passed away in 1970.
After graduating from Camden High School in 1934 and Auburn University in 1938, Martin Odlen returned to Camden and went to work in the family business. He married Beatrice Fuhrman in 1941. He served as a Navy Ensign aboard the cruiser USS Marblehead during WWII.
Martin Odlen returned to Camden after the war, by which time his family was living at 3070 Federal Street in East Camden. He stayed in the family business, and was owner and president until he retired in 1975.
Martin Odlen was active in community affairs, and was especially active in the affairs of Congregation Beth El, on Park Boulevard opposite Farnham Park, of which he was a member.
He served as president of Beth El from 1963 to 1965 and 1968 to 1970, and was instrumental in moving the congregation out of Camden to its present home on Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill NJ.
Martin Odlen passed away on August 3, 2003. He was buried at Crescent Burial Park in Pennsauken NJ.
Martin Odlen
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, May 4, 1934 — Martin Odlen
Camden High Girl Given Six Awards
Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger —
Student Honored as 147 Receive Diplomas—Dr. Wilson Speaks
Hazel Heminway, of 2911 Cramer Street, Camden, first honor student of the Camden High School senior class, received six awards, medals and prizes at the commencement exercises yesterday in the school auditorium, Park Boulevard and Baird Avenue. Diplomas were presented to 147 graduates by Samuel Fulton, president of the Board of Education.
Awards given to Miss Heminway were:
Clara S. Burrough Memorial Award, for excellence in character and scholarship and participation in school activities; the Rosa Goldstein Prize, for highest standing in science; Camden Bnai Brith Prize, for highest standing in mathematics; Thoirs Auxiliary Award, for American history and problems of democracy; Phi Beta Kappa Association of Philadelphia Award and High School Fathers’ Association Prize, for outstanding work in extracurricular activities other than athletics.
Dr. Lucy L. W. Wilson, who retired this week as principal of South Philadelphia High School for Girls, was the commencement speaker.
Other prizes and scholarships awarded were:
Rose prizes of $15 each, to winners of public speaking contest, Margaret Melson and Patrick Brady; Camden High School Alumni Scholarships, Alfred Pikus, to University of Pennsylvania; Mary Trench, to college of own choosing. Philomathean Society Prize for English composition, and the High School Classical Club Award for Latin, Constance DiGuiseppe.
Science Award, shared between Irving Ziedman and Hazel Heminway. Class of 1916 Prize, and the Lyola C. Pedrick Prize in drawing, Alfred DeMartin. Icima Club of Camden Alumni Association Prize for best work in physics, and Philadelphia Business College Scholarship, Warren Mitchell. Woman’s Club Prize for American history, and Camden Lions’ Club Prize for good school citizenship, James Hendricks. Bnai Brith Prize for mathematics, William Berry. Mary McClelland Brown Prize for French, shared by William Berry and Hazel Heminway.
Roanoke College scholarship, valued at $125, Edward Hagy; Washington and Lee University, valued at $100, Albert Maure; College of William and Mary, valued at $100, Sheeley Lashman; College of South Jersey, $100, Paul Springer; Steelman’s Business School, $250, Isabel Shetler; Banks Business College, $250, Doris Friedenberg; Taylor Business School, $250, Patrick Brady; Philadelphia Business College, $250, Warren Mitchell; Washington and Jefferson College, $750, William Hussong; New York University by N. Y. U. Alumni Club of Philadelphia, full tuition, David Reed, president of Student Government; Taylor University, $100, Michael Sullivan, and Brown Preparatory School, $250, Emilio Iannetta.
of Camden Woman’s Club, Ruth Adams and Martin Ravitch; class of 1923 prizes for greatest ability in athletics, William McLaughlin and Florence Bryen; Camden Woman’s Club prize in practical arts, Ruth Hart; Beethoven Club award, Clover Winter; Philadelphia Tribune prize, Iola Ames; High School Fathers Association prize, Stephen Schuster and Hazel Heminway.
The graduates are:
College Course
George J. Abrams; Gilbert F. Lackman; Robert H. Anderson; Louis S. Lawyer; J. Buren Barker; Harry R. Linthicum; William F. Bartell, 3d.; Daniel B. Lysak; Herman M. Bass; Samuel H. Maklin; Dorothy Beck; William E. McLaughlin; Harry R. Burris, Jr.; Dorothy Miller; Joseph N. Colangelo; Robert J. Moyer; William C. Daisey; C. Sylvia Narodetsky; William A. Davis, Jr.; F. Bradford Naylor; Dermot A. Dollar; Michael Pelechowicz; Eleanor B. Dreyer; Emma B. Pfeiffer; William A. Drummond; A. Charles Polato; Oliver Everett, Jr.; Joseph C. Ragone; John J. Finnegan; David H. Read; Doris L. Fox; Irving Robbins; Carmella P. Galloppi; Blanche E. Rowan; Chester O. Gallup; Morris Rozner; Irwin Ginsburg; Ann E. Schafer; Sydney A. Goldberg; Angelina D. Schiavo; Robert T. Greer; Stephen J. Schuster; Joseph R. Guarino; Joseph W. Seaton; Albert C. Hammond; Bessie Shaen; Hazel Hemingway; Isabel H. Shetler; Marie Hensgen; Stella Stein; William J. Husong; Michael J. Sullivan; Florence N. Joslin; Florence Szymanklewicz; Alfred C. Kaplan; Nathan L. Troub; William E. Kelly; Helen S. Tyler; Jack W. Kinsella; William G. Warner; Benjamin Klein; F. Milton Willett; Morris Kleitman; Russell G. Willis; Jack Korman; Cover R. Winter; Harry Kurtz; Walter A. Zackon; Irving Zeidman.
Technical Course
Christian R. Arllen; George W. Lodge; Charles F. Becker; Albert F. Maure; Charles S. Budd; Lloyd P. Mick; John A. DeJulis; J. Warren Mitchell; Edgar H. Fenton; George Mulford; George Foster; Frederick W. Niessner; Volney Gross; Martin Odlen; Edward M. Hagy; James C. Paera; Baleslaw M. Halicks; Edward C. Schumann; Samuel B. Hornberger; Paul LeB. Springer; Emilio A. Ianetta, Jr.; Herbert K. Townsend; Leon Kaufman; Charles F. Whittick; John T. Lawrence; E. Edward Lee.
Normal Course
Mola L. Amos; Rose A. Kutcher; Beatrice Barish; Viola Lalli; Dorothy E. Blossom; Ethel Landolt; Doris V. Broome; Sophie Lozek; Mary I. Chance; Mary E. Martin; Constance Di Giuseppe; Margaret Mears; Rita Glassman; Margaret Melson; Eleanor Goff; Eleanor M. Simpson; L. Vivian Heard; Evelyn H. Starkey; Betty Heil; Dorothea L. Stone; R. Grace Hosier; Marie E. Thompson; M. Evelyn Yeager.
General Course
Arlene Blomquist; Edna M. Leitch; Zurelda Briscoe; Louis Lichtman; Florence C. Bryen; Harold W. Meluski; Lawrence Bunker; Harriet Ness; Marg’t E. Condren; William H. O’Neill; Mildred Corson; Chas. Panden, Jr.; Alfred E. DeMartin; James Shanklin; Margaret Di Maio; Ruth E. Ship; Thomas P. Flaherty; Sue S. Stevenson; Virginia E. Gilbert; Caroline Stosny; James R. Hendricks; Anna E. Strang; Bertha V. Jones; Viola M. Swal; John J. Kissel; F. H. Vonderslice; Terry J. Kisselman; Frank E. Wick; Irene J. LaMarra.
USS Marblehead CL-12
USS Marblehead CL-12 — off New York City, May 6, 1944
WWII Service
Branch of Service: U.S. Navy
Hometown: Camden, NJ
Honored by: Ralph Bozorth
Activity during WWII: He served as an Ensign aboard the light cruiser USS Marblehead.
Congregation Beth El
Congregation Beth El by William M. Hoffman Jr., Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University, Ligonier PA — Congregation Beth El, Cherry Hill NJ
Death Notice
Camden Courier-Post —
ODLEN, MARTIN ‘MARTY’ August 6, 2003. Husband of the late Beatrice (nee Fuhrman) of Atlantic City. Father of Suzin Odlen and Barry (Lisa) Odlen. Brother of Helene Cooperman and Natalie Levin. Grandfather of Shana Odlen and Lauren Odlen.
Marty was a great community leader and a devoted family man. He was owner and president, until his retirement in 1975, of General Iron Works in Camden, NJ. After graduating from Camden High School in 1933 and Auburn University in 1938, he served as a Navy Ensign during WWII. Marty was President of Congregation Beth El in Cherry Hill from 1963 to 1965 and 1968 to 1970; President of Kiwanis International in 1964; a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; and a member of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity.
He received many honors from various groups including Congregation Beth El, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Kellman Academy, State of Israel Bonds, Kiwanis Club, and The Auburn Alumni Association.
Relatives and friends may call Friday beginning 10:00am, Cong. Beth El, 2901 Chapel Ave. W., Cherry Hill, NJ where services will begin at 11:00am. Int. Crescent Burial Park. The family will return to the home of Barry and Lisa Odlen and respectfully request contributions in his memory be made to Congregation Beth El, 2901 Chapel Ave., W., Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Marty Odlen Owned Fabricating Firm
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Martin “Marty” Odlen, 87, who owned a steel fabricating company in Camden and was active in several Camden County organizations in the 1960s and 1970s, died of a blood disorder Wednesday at his Atlantic City home.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Odlen grew up in Camden, where his father, Robert, owned General Iron Works.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in Alabama in 1938, then went to work in the family business. During World War II, he served as a Navy ensign aboard the light cruiser USS Marblehead.
He was president and owner of the iron works until he retired to Florida in 1975. The company made steel columns and beams to engineers’ specifications so that they could be used immediately in building projects.
Mr. Odlen moved to Atlantic City in 1999 after the death of his wife, the former Beatrice Fuhrman. The couple met in childhood and married in 1941.