Samuel Stroum

{{Short description|Jewish-American businessman and philanthropist}}

Samuel N. Stroum (April 14, 1921 – March 9, 2001) was a Jewish-American businessman and philanthropist. He was called the "godfather of Seattle giving".{{cite news |last1=Beers |first1=Carole |title=Patron Samuel Stroum, known to many as godfather of giving, dies at 79 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20010311&slug=stroum11m |access-date=14 September 2022 |work=Seattle Times |date=11 March 2001}}

Stroum was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants.{{cite web |last1=Micklin |first1=Lee |title=Stroum, Samuel N. (1921-2001) |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/3516 |publisher=HistoryLink |access-date=14 September 2022 |date=5 August 2001}} He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II and married Althea (1922-2011) in 1942. Stroum founded ALMAC-Stroum Electronics in 1960 and later purchased Schuck's Auto Supply. In 1983, he retired to devote his time to philanthropy.

Stroum had a close relationship with the University of Washington. He and his wife established a lecture series in Jewish Studies in 1975, and later endowed a Chair in Jewish Studies. Stroum served on the Board of Regents from 1985 to 1998. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from Brandeis University, Seattle University, and Whitworth College.