Rabb Family

Nachman Schleime and Yente Rabinovitz (original name: Aaron) and their children immigrated to the United States in 1891 from Russia. Emigrating to avoid a son's conscription into the Russian Army, the family spent two years trying to enter Palestine and ended up in America by accident, according to family lore. Joseph Rabinovitz (JR) (1878-1967) was thirteen when the family arrived in Boston, sent by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society from New York. Working in the family's North End grocery store and peddling housewares, he saved enough money to go into the wholesale grocery business. He then joined forces with his older brother Max, and in 1898, along with three other companies, established the Standard Grocery Company.

JR's brothers, Jacob (1885-1967) and Julius, started the Economy Grocery Company in 1913. After his discharge from the Marines, Sidney Rabinovitz (SRR) (1900-1985), JR's eldest son, joined the company, becoming General Manager in 1919 and rising to Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 1930. By the end of 1919, JR also became actively involved in the company. Only a year later, Jacob, JR and SRR were the sole owners. Norman S. Rabinovitz (NSR) (1905-1997), JR's second son, came into the business in 1925, the year the company incorporated and issued its first shares of general stock. In 1935, Irving W. Rabinovitz (IWR) (1913- ), JR's third son, joined the company. All three brothers, SRR, NSR, and IWR attended the Boston Latin School and went on to Harvard before going into the family business.

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