Background
Ungar was born to a Jewish family in Poland where he worked as a teacher in a technical high school.
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William Ungar
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City College of New New York
Career
During World World War II he fought with the Polish Army and was wounded. He returned to his home and when it was overrun by the German Army, he was able to remain hidden thanks to identification documents given to him by a Catholic friend. He was eventually uncovered by the Gestapo and was sent to the Janowska concentration camp in Lviv.
He escaped and once again returned home where he was hidden by his Ukrainian landlord in a basement crawl space for nine months.
In 1944, the city was liberated by the Red Army. Ungar came to America in 1946, arriving on May 20 aboard the Steamship Marine Flasher, the first deportee boat to reach American shores after World World War World War II He worked at an envelope machine manufacturing company during the day while attending school at night.
In 1952, after graduating from the City College of the City University of New York with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he obtained several envelope making machines and founded the National Envelope Corporation. He grew his company into one of the largest privately owned producers of envelopes in the United States.
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. Ungar helped to found the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, District of Columbia. He also helped to found Yad l"Yeled, the Children Holocaust Museum and the Ungar School of Holocaust Studies both located on Kibbutz Lohamei HaGeta"ot in Israel. He served on the Temple Israel of Great Neck Board of Trustees.
Achievements
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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 National Conference of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award, and the 2008 Envelope Manufacturers Association Founders Award, among others
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Born
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Died
September 19, 2013 (aged 100) -
Nationality
United States
Education
Awards
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Medal of Honor; the America Business Achievement Award
The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.