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Sholom D. Comay, 53; Head of American Jewish Committee

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Sholom D. Comay, A Pittsburgh lawyer and businessman who was head of the New York-based American Jewish Committee, has died at 53.

Comay died Saturday of a heart attack, the Jewish civil rights group announced. He was stricken while driving with his wife, Estelle, from Pittsburgh to their summer home in Chautauqua, N.Y.

Comay had been reelected earlier this month as head of the 85-year-old organization.

During his tenure, he released what he termed an “extraordinarily significant” survey by the organization showing anti-Semitic sentiment prevalent in Moscow.

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Comay publicly disagreed with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer that approved the display of a menorah on public property in Pittsburgh. He joined other Jewish leaders in saying the decision might secularize an important religious symbol.

“There is simply no religious need for the display of sacred symbols of any faith in or at government buildings,” he said. “There is ample private space available for the public display of sacred symbols in churches, synagogues, religious schools, private homes, lawns and storefronts.”

Born in Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, 1937, Comay studied at Brandeis University and earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He practiced law for 12 years before joining Action Industries, which markets promotional programs to retailers. He was named chairman of the board last July.

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Known as a philanthropic leader in the Pittsburgh area, Comay had also served the American Jewish Committee as national treasurer, member of its board of governors, and chairman of its domestic affairs and national affairs commissions before rising to president.

In 1978, Comay received the National Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his mother, Ethel, a son and a daughter.

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