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Lee Alexander Lorch was born on September 20, 1915, in New York City, at a home on West 149th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. He was an American mathematician and civil rights activist who played a crucial role in the campaign to desegregate Stuyvesant Town, a large housing development on the East Side of Manhattan. Lorch's activism helped to eventually make housing discrimination illegal in the United States, but it also resulted in him losing his job twice and facing professional turmoil throughout his life. He died on February 28, 2014, at the age of 98 in a hospital in Toronto, Canada, where he had been a professor emeritus of mathematics at York University.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | New York City |
| Date of Birth | September 20, 1915 |
| Parents | Adolph Lorch and Florence Mayer Lorch |
| Address | West 149th Street and Broadway in Manhattan |
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Lee Lorch was born in New York City
Lee Lorch, the American mathematician and civil rights activist, was born in New York City. Born on September 20, 1915, on West 149th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, Lorch grew up in a city that was soon to become a hotbed of racial tension and civil rights activism.
Lorch's parents, Adolph Lorch and Florence Mayer Lorch, were of Jewish-German heritage. Florence was a school teacher, and Adolph was part-owner of a small factory. Lorch had three siblings: Arthur, Regina, and Judith. He graduated from Cornell University in 1935 and later earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Cincinnati in 1941.
Lorch's activism began in New York City, where he played a crucial role in the campaign to desegregate Stuyvesant Town, a large housing development on the East Side of Manhattan. Outraged by the development's "No Negroes" policy, Lorch became a leader in the tenants' committee, which successfully pressured the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to abandon its discriminatory policies. However, his activism came at a cost, as he lost his job at City College due to his involvement.
Despite facing professional repercussions, Lorch continued his civil rights work when he and his wife, Grace, moved to the Southern United States. There, he taught at several Black colleges, including Fisk University, and encouraged Black students to pursue advanced studies in mathematics. Lorch's commitment to racial equality led him to stand with the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine high school students who were the first Black students to enrol at Little Rock Central High School amid fierce white segregationist opposition.
Throughout his life, Lorch remained dedicated to social justice and the advancement of racial equality, leaving a lasting impact on the civil rights movement in the United States.
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Lorch's birthdate: 20 September 1915
Lee Alexander Lorch was born on 20 September 1915 in New York City. His parents were Adolph Lorch and Florence Mayer Lorch (or Florence Lorch). Lee Lorch had three siblings: Arthur, Regina, and Judith. He was born at a home on West 149th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.
Lee Lorch grew up to be an American mathematician and early civil rights activist. He graduated from Cornell University in 1935 and earned a PhD in mathematics at the University of Cincinnati in 1941. He briefly worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He married Grace Lonergan, a Boston school teacher, in December 1943. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and became an instructor for the City College of New York in 1946.
Lee Lorch died on 28 February 2014 at the age of 98.
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Parents: Adolph and Florence Lorch
Lee Lorch was born in New York City to Adolph Lorch and Florence Mayer Lorch (or Florence Lorch). Lee's mother, Florence, was a schoolteacher until she married. She and her husband, Adolph, had four children: Lee, Arthur, Regina, and Judith. Florence's maiden name was Mayer, and Lee's grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Germany.
Adolph Lorch, Lee's father, eventually became part owner of a small factory. Lee Lorch, born on September 20, 1915, grew up in New York during the 1930s and 1940s, witnessing the hatred brewing in Europe. He graduated from Cornell University in 1935 and obtained his PhD in mathematics from the University of Cincinnati in 1941.
Lee Lorch followed in his mother's footsteps as an educator, becoming a professor of mathematics. Notably, he encouraged his African-American students to pursue higher studies in mathematics. He played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, particularly in the campaign to desegregate Stuyvesant Town, a large housing development in New York City. However, his activism led to professional turmoil, resulting in his dismissal from multiple institutions and, ultimately, exile.
Lee Lorch's wife, Grace Lorch, was also actively involved in the civil rights movement. She and Lee attempted to enroll their daughter, Alice, in an all-black elementary school following the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. They both played a role in escorting the Little Rock Nine, facing threats and violent opposition. Grace Lorch passed away in 1974, and Lee Lorch died on February 28, 2014, at the age of 98.
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Lorch's career as a civil rights activist
Lee Lorch was born at his parents' home on West 149th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. He was an American mathematician, communist, and early civil rights activist.
Lorch's activism extended beyond housing discrimination. He and his wife, Grace Lorch, actively supported the integration of schools. In 1955, they attempted to enrol their daughter, Alice, in an all-black elementary school following the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that school segregation was unconstitutional. This action drew the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), which questioned Lorch about his political activities and alleged Communist ties. Lorch refused to testify about his party membership prior to 1941, citing his rights under the First Amendment. He was indicted, tried, and acquitted for contempt of Congress. Despite this, Fisk University, where Lorch was a professor, ended his contract due to the controversy.
Lorch's commitment to racial equality and social justice continued throughout his life. He taught at several historically Black colleges, including Fisk University and Philander Smith College, and encouraged Black students to pursue studies in mathematics. He mentored several of the first Black men and women to earn PhDs in mathematics in the United States. Lorch's activism also extended to his time in Canada, where he remained politically active and engaged in peace and justice issues. He was recognised for his contributions with numerous honours, including honorary degrees, fellowships, and civil rights awards.
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Lorch's death in Toronto
Lee Alexander Lorch, an American mathematician and civil rights activist, died in Toronto, Canada, on February 28, 2014, at the age of 98. Lorch had been living in Toronto since 1968 and was a professor emeritus of mathematics at York University.
Lorch's death was confirmed by his daughter, Alice Lorch Bartels, who stated that he died of natural causes. A memorial service for Professor Lorch was planned for the fall, with details to be published in YFile. York University president & vice-chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri released a statement, praising Lorch as an "extraordinary human being" and a "champion of social justice."
Lorch's activism and mathematics career began in the United States, where he played a crucial role in the campaign to desegregate Stuyvesant Town, a large housing development in Manhattan. His efforts helped to make housing discrimination illegal in the United States but also resulted in him losing his job twice. Lorch then moved to the Southern United States, where he and his wife, Grace Lorch, became involved in the civil rights movement, teaching at several Black colleges. He encouraged Black students to pursue studies in mathematics and mentored several of the first Black men and women to earn PhDs in the subject.
However, Lorch's activism and alleged Communist ties led to him being called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1955. He refused to answer questions about his party membership prior to 1941 and was indicted, tried, and acquitted for contempt of Congress. Despite this, Lorch continued his activism, helping to escort the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine Black high school students attempting to integrate Little Rock Central High School in the face of fierce opposition.
Facing a blacklist by most US universities, Lorch moved to Canada in 1968 and joined York University in Toronto, where he taught until his retirement in 1985. Even after his retirement, Lorch remained politically active and was a member of several organizations, including the Communist Party of Canada and the United Jewish Peoples Order. He also continued his academic work, collaborating on research papers and maintaining an office at York University well into his 90s.
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Frequently asked questions
Lee Lorch was born at a home on West 149th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, New York City, on September 20, 1915.
His parents were Adolph Lorch and Florence Mayer Lorch (or Florence Lorch).
Yes, Lee Lorch had three siblings: Arthur, Regina, and Judith.
Lorch's mother was a school teacher until she married, and his father eventually became part owner of a small factory.
Lee Lorch graduated from Cornell University in 1935 and received a PhD in mathematics from the University of Cincinnati in 1941.
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