Irving Jaffee: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American speed skater}} |
{{Short description|American speed skater}} |
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{{Infobox sportsperson |
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{{MedalTableTop}} |
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| name = Irving Jaffee |
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| image = Irving Jaffee.jpg |
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| imagesize = 200px |
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| caption = Jaffee speed skating, 1932 |
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| fullname = Irving Warren Jaffee |
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1906|9|15}} |
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| birth_place = [[New York City]] |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1981|3|20|1906|9|15}} |
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| death_place = [[San Diego, California]] |
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| headercolor = lightsteelblue |
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| height = |
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| weight = |
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| education = |
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| show-medals = yes |
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| medaltemplates = |
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{{MedalSport| [[Speed skating at the Winter Olympics|Speed skating]]}} |
{{MedalSport| [[Speed skating at the Winter Olympics|Speed skating]]}} |
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{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} |
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} |
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{{MedalGold| [[1932 Winter Olympics|1932 Lake Placid]] | [[Speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}} |
{{MedalGold| [[1932 Winter Olympics|1932 Lake Placid]] | [[Speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}} |
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{{MedalGold| Lake Placid 1932 | [[Speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics – Men's 10000 metres|10,000 m]]}} |
{{MedalGold| Lake Placid 1932 | [[Speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics – Men's 10000 metres|10,000 m]]}} |
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}} |
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{{MedalBottom}} |
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⚫ | '''Irving Warren Jaffee''' (September 15, 1906 in [[New York City]] – March 20, 1981 in [[San Diego, California]]) was an American [[Speed skating|speed skater]] who won two gold medals at the [[1932 Winter Olympics]], becoming the most successful athlete there along with his compatriot [[Jack Shea (speed skater)|Jack Shea]].<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA146 |title=Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame |isbn=9781574882841 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Siegman |first1=Joseph |year=2000 }}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aOTWUl-9LQoC&pg=PA45 |title=Day by day in Jewish sports history |isbn=9781602800137 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Wechsler |first1=Bob |year=2008 }}</ref> It was the first time two Americans had won medals in speed skating at a Winter Olympics.<ref>"Olympic History Spiced With Great Achievements", ''The Atlanta Constitution'', Atlanta, Georgia, pg. 254, 10 February 1980</ref> |
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[[File:Irving Jaffee.jpg|thumb|Irving Jaffee]] |
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⚫ | '''Irving Warren Jaffee''' (September 15, 1906 in [[New York City]] – March 20, 1981 in [[San Diego, California]]) was an American [[Speed skating|speed skater]] who won two gold medals at the [[1932 Winter Olympics]], becoming the most successful athlete there along with his compatriot [[Jack Shea (speed skater)|Jack Shea]].<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA146 |title=Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame |access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aOTWUl-9LQoC&pg=PA45 |title=Day by day in Jewish sports history |access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref> |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Jaffee, who was [[Jewish]],<ref name="google3">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hc2dCHfyh0AC&pg=PA138 |title=The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, Lore and The Games |year=2009|access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref><ref name="google4">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3wX21fXD-QC&pg=PA31 |title=Sports and the American Jew |access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref> was born to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia in 1896. He grew up in the [[Crotona Park]] section of [[The Bronx]],<ref name="google4"/> where he played baseball with future Hall of Famer [[Hank Greenberg]]. He briefly attended [[DeWitt Clinton High School]], but dropped out after failing to make the varsity baseball team. |
Jaffee, who was [[Jewish]],<ref name="google3">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hc2dCHfyh0AC&pg=PA138 |title=The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, Lore and The Games |year=2009|isbn=9781594853272 |access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref><ref name="google4">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3wX21fXD-QC&pg=PA31 |title=Sports and the American Jew |isbn=9780815627548 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Riess |first1=Steven A. |date=June 1998 }}</ref> was born to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia in 1896. He grew up in the [[Crotona Park]] section of [[The Bronx]],<ref name="google4"/> where he played baseball with future Hall of Famer [[Hank Greenberg]]. He briefly attended [[DeWitt Clinton High School]], but dropped out after failing to make the varsity baseball team. |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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At age 14, Jaffee took up skating at the Gay Blades of Iceland rink (which later became the [[Roseland Ballroom]]). Rather than pay the 75-cent admission fee, he worked as an ice cleaner to gain admission. He entered numerous skating races in the 1920s. He finally won the Silver Skates two-mile race in 1926, won the national five- |
At age 14, Jaffee took up skating at the Gay Blades of Iceland rink (which later became the [[Roseland Ballroom]]). Rather than pay the 75-cent admission fee, he worked as an ice cleaner to gain admission. He entered numerous skating races in the 1920s. He finally won the [[Silver Skates (New York City)|Silver Skates]] two-mile race in 1926, won the national five-mile event the following year,<ref name="google2"/> and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1928. |
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===1928 Olympics=== |
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⚫ | At the [[1928 Winter Olympics]] in [[St. Moritz]], Jaffee finished fourth in the 5000-meter skate, the best finish by an American in that event to that date.<ref name="google3"/> |
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[[File:Irving Jaffee, 1928 photo by Underwood.jpg|thumb|1928 newspaper clipping that mentions the IOC awarding Jaffee as the winner, which was later reversed by the International Skating Union]] |
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⚫ | At the [[1928 Winter Olympics]] in [[St. Moritz]], Jaffee finished fourth in the [[Speed skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5,000-meter skate]], the best finish by an American in that event to that date.<ref name="google3"/> In the following [[Speed skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics – Men's 10,000 metres|10,000-meter race]], Jaffee was leading the competition, having outskated Norwegian defending world champion [[Bernt Evensen]] in their heat, when rising temperatures thawed the ice.<ref name="google3"/><ref name="google5">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xcfef_d2es4C&pg=PA43 |title=The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and The 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars |year= 2007|isbn=9781561719075 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Horvitz |first1=Peter S. }}</ref> In a controversial ruling, the Norwegian referee canceled the entire competition.<ref name="google3"/> Although the [[International Olympic Committee]] reversed the referee's decision and awarded Jaffee the gold medal, the [[International Skating Union]] later overruled the IOC and restored the ruling.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google6">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qpiphgls99IC&pg=PA141 |title=The International Jewish Sports Hall ... |date=September 15, 1906 |isbn=9781561710287 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Siegman |first1=Joseph M. }}</ref> Evensen, for his part, publicly said that Jaffee should be awarded the gold medal, but that never happened.<ref name="google3"/> Regardless of the official rulings, Jaffee's performance made him a national sports hero.<ref name="SFE"/> |
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That year he also set a world record in the mile (2:30.6).<ref name="google2"/> |
That year he also set a world record in the mile (2:30.6).<ref name="google2"/> |
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===1932 Olympics=== |
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Jaffee competed again at the 1932 Winter Olympics in [[Lake Placid, New York]].<ref name="google3"/> At the time, Jaffee recalled, there were signs in Lake Placid that said "No dogs or Jews allowed".<ref name="google7">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RlFYNcGp2kMC&pg=PA261 |title=Spanning the World: The Crazy ... |access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref> There, he won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google3"/> In the 10,000-meter race, Jaffee won in a thrilling finish by leaping across the finish line ahead of [[Frank Stack (speed skater)|Frank Stack]] and [[Ivar Ballangrud]]. |
Jaffee competed again at the 1932 Winter Olympics in [[Lake Placid, New York]].<ref name="google3"/> At the time, Jaffee recalled, there were signs in Lake Placid that said "No dogs or Jews allowed".<ref name="google7">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RlFYNcGp2kMC&pg=PA261 |title=Spanning the World: The Crazy ... |isbn=9780060757526 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Berman |first1=Len |date=31 May 2005 }}</ref> There, he won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google3"/> In the 10,000-meter race, Jaffee won in a thrilling finish by leaping across the finish line ahead of [[Frank Stack (speed skater)|Frank Stack]] and [[Ivar Ballangrud]]. As he had in other races, Jaffee's accomplishment astounded the skating world, as few American skaters had ever rivalled their European competitors.<ref name="SFE">"Obituary, Irving Jaffee", ''San Francisco Examiner'', San Francisco, California, pg. 16, 21 March 1981</ref> |
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In December 1932 his manager |
In December 1932, his manager announced that Jaffee, and also [[Ivar Ballangrud]], would turn professional.<ref name="newspaperarchive">{{cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/medicine-hat-news-dec-23-1932-p-4/|website=newspaperarchive.com|title=Medicine Hat News Newspaper Archives, Dec 23, 1932, p. 4|access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref> Jaffee's professional career was aided by Postmaster General [[James Farley]]. Jaffee went on a ten-city professional tour, and later went into the skate manufacturing business, achieving success for a time as a businessman.<ref name="SFE"/> |
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===Maccabiah Games=== |
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He served on the American board for the [[1935 Maccabiah Games|Second Maccabiah Games]], held in Israel from April 2 to 10, 1935, despite official opposition by the British Mandatory government, along with [[Benny Leonard]] and [[Nat Holman]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blFZ_zjQNuUC&pg=PA268 |title=Abel Kiviat, national champion ... |isbn=9780815609391 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Katchen |first1=Alan S. |date=10 July 2009 }}</ref> |
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During the [[Great Depression]], the unemployed Jaffee ended up on bread lines<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ka2mzeYQSJkC&pg=PA297 |title=High visibility: transforming your personal and professional brand |
During the [[Great Depression]], the unemployed Jaffee ended up on bread lines<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ka2mzeYQSJkC&pg=PA297 |title=High visibility: transforming your personal and professional brand |
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|isbn=9780071483131 |
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|access-date=February 27, 2011 |
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|last1=Rein |
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|first1=Irving |
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|last2=Kotler |
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|first2=Philip |
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|last3=Hamlin |
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|first3=Michael |
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|last4=Stoller |
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|first4=Martin |
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|date=6 January 2006 |
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⚫ | }}</ref> and was forced to [[Pawnbroker|pawn]] his Olympic and other medals for $3500.<ref name="google7"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fH3hD3MkIMYC&pg=PR49 |title=Historical dictionary of the Olympic movement|isbn=9780810865242 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |last1=Buchanan |first1=Ian |last2=Mallon |first2=Bill |date=15 November 2005 }}</ref> After he obtained a job on [[Wall Street]], he went to redeem his medals, only to learn the pawn shop had gone out of business: he never saw the medals again. |
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In 1934, he worked as Winter Sports Director at [[Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lipman |first=Steve |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/forgotten_olympians |title=The Forgotten Olympians | |
In 1934, he worked as Winter Sports Director at [[Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel]],<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lipman |first=Steve |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/forgotten_olympians |title=The Forgotten Olympians |journal=The Jewish Week |date=August 6, 2004 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |archive-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917182556/http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/forgotten_olympians |url-status=dead }}</ref> and set a world record there by skating 25 miles in 1:26:01. breaking the 30-year-old record by five minutes.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/><ref name="google5"/><ref name="google6"/> Jaffee also served as a coach to several Olympic speed skaters.<ref name="Olympedia">{{cite web |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/87432|title=Olympedia, Irving Jaffee, Biography|publisher=Olympedia|access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> |
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Jaffee appeared in a full-page ad for [[Camel cigarettes]] in 1934, entitled "It Takes Healthy Nerves for Jaffee to be the World's Champion Skater; Steady Smokers Turn to Camels".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2CcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT1 |title=Steady Smokers Turn to Camels | |
Jaffee appeared in a full-page ad for [[Camel cigarettes]] in 1934, entitled "It Takes Healthy Nerves for Jaffee to be the World's Champion Skater; Steady Smokers Turn to Camels".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2CcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT1 |title=Steady Smokers Turn to Camels |journal=Popular Science |date=February 1934 |access-date=January 10, 2016}}</ref> |
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===Honors=== |
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Jaffee was elected to the [[United States Skating Hall of Fame]] in 1940 and the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1979. He died in San Diego in 1981. |
Jaffee was elected to the [[United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame]] in 1940 and the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1979. He died in San Diego in 1981. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[List of Jews in sports#Speed |
*[[List of Jews in sports#Speed skating|List of select Jewish speed skaters]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*[http://www.jewsinsports.org/Publication.asp?titleID=3¤t_page=383 Harold and Meir Ribalow, "Irving Jaffee: Olympian Speedster", Jewsinsports.com] |
*[http://www.jewsinsports.org/Publication.asp?titleID=3¤t_page=383 Harold and Meir Ribalow, "Irving Jaffee: Olympian Speedster", Jewsinsports.com] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070418192232/http://jewishsports.net/BioPages/IrvingJaffee.htm International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame profile, with photo] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070418192232/http://jewishsports.net/BioPages/IrvingJaffee.htm International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame profile, with photo] |
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*[https://archive. |
*[https://archive.today/20130127042941/http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/jaffeeirving.shtml HickokSports.com profile, with photo] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007151226/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JAFFEIRV01 Databaseolympics.com statistics] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007151226/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JAFFEIRV01 Databaseolympics.com statistics] |
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[[Category:Medalists at the 1932 Winter Olympics]] |
[[Category:Medalists at the 1932 Winter Olympics]] |
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[[Category:DeWitt Clinton High School alumni]] |
[[Category:DeWitt Clinton High School alumni]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American Jews]] |
Revision as of 20:03, 28 February 2024
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Irving Warren Jaffee | |||||||||||||||||
Born | New York City | September 15, 1906|||||||||||||||||
Died | March 20, 1981 San Diego, California | (aged 74)|||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Irving Warren Jaffee (September 15, 1906 in New York City – March 20, 1981 in San Diego, California) was an American speed skater who won two gold medals at the 1932 Winter Olympics, becoming the most successful athlete there along with his compatriot Jack Shea.[1][2] It was the first time two Americans had won medals in speed skating at a Winter Olympics.[3]
Early life
Jaffee, who was Jewish,[4][5] was born to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia in 1896. He grew up in the Crotona Park section of The Bronx,[5] where he played baseball with future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg. He briefly attended DeWitt Clinton High School, but dropped out after failing to make the varsity baseball team.
Career
At age 14, Jaffee took up skating at the Gay Blades of Iceland rink (which later became the Roseland Ballroom). Rather than pay the 75-cent admission fee, he worked as an ice cleaner to gain admission. He entered numerous skating races in the 1920s. He finally won the Silver Skates two-mile race in 1926, won the national five-mile event the following year,[2] and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1928.
1928 Olympics
At the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Jaffee finished fourth in the 5,000-meter skate, the best finish by an American in that event to that date.[4] In the following 10,000-meter race, Jaffee was leading the competition, having outskated Norwegian defending world champion Bernt Evensen in their heat, when rising temperatures thawed the ice.[4][6] In a controversial ruling, the Norwegian referee canceled the entire competition.[4] Although the International Olympic Committee reversed the referee's decision and awarded Jaffee the gold medal, the International Skating Union later overruled the IOC and restored the ruling.[1][7] Evensen, for his part, publicly said that Jaffee should be awarded the gold medal, but that never happened.[4] Regardless of the official rulings, Jaffee's performance made him a national sports hero.[8]
That year he also set a world record in the mile (2:30.6).[2]
1932 Olympics
Jaffee competed again at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.[4] At the time, Jaffee recalled, there were signs in Lake Placid that said "No dogs or Jews allowed".[9] There, he won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races.[1][4] In the 10,000-meter race, Jaffee won in a thrilling finish by leaping across the finish line ahead of Frank Stack and Ivar Ballangrud. As he had in other races, Jaffee's accomplishment astounded the skating world, as few American skaters had ever rivalled their European competitors.[8]
In December 1932, his manager announced that Jaffee, and also Ivar Ballangrud, would turn professional.[10] Jaffee's professional career was aided by Postmaster General James Farley. Jaffee went on a ten-city professional tour, and later went into the skate manufacturing business, achieving success for a time as a businessman.[8]
Maccabiah Games
He served on the American board for the Second Maccabiah Games, held in Israel from April 2 to 10, 1935, despite official opposition by the British Mandatory government, along with Benny Leonard and Nat Holman.[11]
During the Great Depression, the unemployed Jaffee ended up on bread lines[12] and was forced to pawn his Olympic and other medals for $3500.[9][13] After he obtained a job on Wall Street, he went to redeem his medals, only to learn the pawn shop had gone out of business: he never saw the medals again.
In 1934, he worked as Winter Sports Director at Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel,[14] and set a world record there by skating 25 miles in 1:26:01. breaking the 30-year-old record by five minutes.[1][2][6][7] Jaffee also served as a coach to several Olympic speed skaters.[15]
Jaffee appeared in a full-page ad for Camel cigarettes in 1934, entitled "It Takes Healthy Nerves for Jaffee to be the World's Champion Skater; Steady Smokers Turn to Camels".[16]
Honors
Jaffee was elected to the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1940 and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He died in San Diego in 1981.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Siegman, Joseph (2000). Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame. ISBN 9781574882841. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Wechsler, Bob (2008). Day by day in Jewish sports history. ISBN 9781602800137. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ "Olympic History Spiced With Great Achievements", The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, pg. 254, 10 February 1980
- ^ a b c d e f g The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, Lore and The Games. 2009. ISBN 9781594853272. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Riess, Steven A. (June 1998). Sports and the American Jew. ISBN 9780815627548. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Horvitz, Peter S. (2007). The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and The 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars. ISBN 9781561719075. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Siegman, Joseph M. (September 15, 1906). The International Jewish Sports Hall ... ISBN 9781561710287. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Obituary, Irving Jaffee", San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, pg. 16, 21 March 1981
- ^ a b Berman, Len (31 May 2005). Spanning the World: The Crazy ... ISBN 9780060757526. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ "Medicine Hat News Newspaper Archives, Dec 23, 1932, p. 4". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Katchen, Alan S. (10 July 2009). Abel Kiviat, national champion ... ISBN 9780815609391. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ Rein, Irving; Kotler, Philip; Hamlin, Michael; Stoller, Martin (6 January 2006). High visibility: transforming your personal and professional brand. ISBN 9780071483131. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ Buchanan, Ian; Mallon, Bill (15 November 2005). Historical dictionary of the Olympic movement. ISBN 9780810865242. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ Lipman, Steve (August 6, 2004). "The Forgotten Olympians". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ "Olympedia, Irving Jaffee, Biography". Olympedia. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ "Steady Smokers Turn to Camels". Popular Science. February 1934. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
External links
- 1906 births
- 1981 deaths
- Sportspeople from the Bronx
- American male speed skaters
- Speed skaters at the 1928 Winter Olympics
- Speed skaters at the 1932 Winter Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in speed skating
- American people of Russian-Jewish descent
- Jewish American sportspeople
- Medalists at the 1932 Winter Olympics
- DeWitt Clinton High School alumni
- 20th-century American Jews