Sidney Grossman, 91; started insurance companies

Sidney Grossman, 91, who after a near-fatal accident while in his mid-20s was inspired to go into the insurance business, died June 29 in Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., of complications after a fall. Mr. Grossman had homes in Northeast Philadelphia, Medford Lakes, and Ocala, Fla.

Mr. Grossman learned to work hard as a child and kept his work ethic throughout his life.

From age 5, Mr. Grossman worked with his parents and five siblings in the family's deli at 40th Street and Girard Avenue. "He barely found time to graduate from West Philadelphia High School, because his father demanded he work long hours," said daughter Gloria Shurman. "In 1940, he and Lois Mae Gross eloped, and my father stopped working in the deli."

In 1941, Mr. Grossman was a salesman for Bond Bread Co. and was almost killed when a company truck ran over him, his daughter said.

"He was told he probably would not live and was in the hospital for nine months in a full body cast," she said. "He had a wife and a baby. The disability insurance provided by Bond Bread supported them during his two-year recovery. This prompted him to go into the insurance business and to help those less fortunate than him."

Mr. Grossman worked in a munitions plant during World War II.

He began his insurance career in 1946 with the National Life & Accident Insurance Co., where he worked for 10 years. In 1956, he founded National Life & Accident Co. in the Northeast and Gold Shield Insurance Agency on Chestnut Street, where he worked for four years before joining Phoenix Insurance Co., which had offices in Medford Lakes and Arizona. He retained ownership of his independent firms while working for Phoenix until 1978.

Mr. Grossman started National Compensation Corp. and Sid Grossman & Co. in the mid-1960s. His son, Jack, inherited the agencies, which operate under the name GM Financial Consultants in Bala Cynwyd.

Mr. Grossman was honored by his profession with many awards and was a founder of the International Million Dollar Forum. He also was a member of the Quaker City Shrine Club of Lu Lu Temple and a 32d-degree Mason.

In addition to son Jack and daughter Gloria, Mr. Grossman is survived by daughters Eileen Staller and Judy Norman; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2006.

Services were July 3.

Donations may be sent the MDRT Foundation - the philanthropic arm of the Million Dollar Round Table, an association of financial professionals - at 325 W. Touhy Ave., Park Ridge, Ill. 60068.