OBITUARY

Founder of Oxman’s Surplus Created One of the Largest Military Surplus Stores in the Nation

La Mirada~Jerome Oxman, World War II Veteran and founder of Oxman’s Surplus passed away February 22 at his home in Buena Park after a battle with prostate cancer and a recent stoke. He was 97.

Mr. Oxman was laid to rest February 26th at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar during a private ceremony.

During WWII he served in the United States Army-in Iran-as part of the Persian Gulf Command.

After the war, he wed Miriam Averbook of Superior, Wisconsin on June 14, 1947 and they were married over 65 years.

That year they visited California on their honeymoon and never returned, with Jerome first getting a job at Palley’s Surplus in Vernon, California.

Mr.”O,” as he is commonly known by family and friends, founded Oxman’s in 1961 after he convinced the former owner of the “Big A” property to let him use the old auto service garages   on the property, located at Rosecrans and Valley View Avenues, to operate a mail-order business that would ship military “surplus.”

He bid strategically at government surplus auctions and the military and aircraft that he sold and shipped got so much attention that Mr. “O” had to open the doors to the public, and Oxman’s Surplus was born.

Today, Oxman’s, now encompasses the garages and the adjacent 7,500 square foot building and has long been considered one of the most extensive surplus stores in the nation.

In 2010, after 49 years, Oxman’s changed their main entrance from the back of the store to the front, and also opened up a 2,000 square foot museum displaying hundreds of pieces of military memorabilia from Mr. “O’s” collection. The museum is free of charge and also includes a brand new Mess Tent Café, where patrons can

Jerome and Miriam Oxman appeared at the 3rd Annual La Mirada Blog Fest this past August

snack and watch some military TV.

Oxman was very active in the La Mirada community over the years. He is past president of the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce, board member of the La Mirada Meals-on-Wheels, and a La Mirada Little League sponsor for over fifty years.

There will be a Memorial Service and a celebration of Mr. “O’s” life on Sunday March 24th, 2013 at the store located at 14128 Rosecrans Avenue, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Please RSVP by March 22nd if you would like to attend this public event.

Oxman is survived by his wife, Miriam, sons Brian, Murray, and Jason; and sister Renee Oxman and four grandchildren.