William Ungar

Ungar was born to a Jewish family in Poland where he worked as a teacher in a technical high school. During World War II, he fought with the Polish Army and was wounded. He worked at an envelope machine manufacturing company during the day while attending school at night. His memoir, published in 2000 by the University Press of America, is entitled Destined to Live. His second book titled "Only in America" is about his success in the business industry. He was honored with an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Queens College and has received numerous awards for his accomplishments, both in the world of business and in the world of philanthropy, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the America Business Achievement Award, being named the 1996 National Entrepreneur of the Year, the 1996 New York City Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the NCCJ Brotherhood Award, and the 2008 Envelope Manufacturers Association Founders Award, among others. ==Philanthropy==

Ungar helped to found the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. The Ungar School of Holocaust Studies was created to foster awareness and understanding of the lessons that can be learned from the Holocaust to young Arab, Muslim and Jewish Israelis as well as to train educators from around the world. He served on the Temple Israel of Great Neck Board of Trustees. ==Personal life==

In 1950, he married fellow Jew Jerry Schweitzer. She was an underground supporter of the Jewish group Haganah which was fighting for the independence of Israel. She assisted by disassembling ammunition-making equipment and shipping it in pieces to Israel. In addition, William and Jerry had 17 grandchildren. The Ungars were members of Temple Israel of Great Neck. Commenting on his meeting with the Pope along with other prominent Jewish leaders he stated: "Imagine that. I grew up in a small Polish village of anti-Semites and survived the Holocaust. Now, Hitler is in hell, and I get to meet with the Pope." == References ==