Julius M. Bankoff

Julius M. Bankoff, age 95, died November 8, 2010, in Tulsa, OK. He was born to parents Max and Fannie Bankoff, in Philadelphia, PA on September 28, 1915. His Bar Mitzvah was September 30, 1928 at B’nai Emunah Synagogue. He graduated from Central High School of Tulsa in 1933. Julius attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a B.S. in Business and was voted Outstanding Male Graduate of the Class of 1937. While at OU he served as President of his sophomore class, writer for the OU newspaper, business manager for the “Sooner” OU Yearbook, member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and editor of their publication, “The Cross Keys” in 1936, President of SAM in 1934 and member of the Roughnecks. He married Celia Joy Heyman on June 5, 1947. Julius enlisted in the US Army on September 3, 1942 and attended Basic Training and OCS at Fort Warren in Wyoming. He served in the Pacific theater and was responsible for major salvage operations. With the rank of Captain, he received an honorable discharge in 1945. After founding Bankoff Pipe and Supply Inc., in 1940, Julius served as State President of Pipe and Steel Dealers Association in 1946, Director at Large and President of the Gulf Coast Chapter (1968-70) of the National Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel, Finance committee Chair of Oklahoma University Hospital and Clinics (1973-76) and was active in Democratic Party politics. He was involved in Bankoff Oil Company and Tulsa Container as well. Mr. Bankoff was a supporter of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, serving as Israel Bond Chairman, Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center as a Board member, Congregation B’nai Emunah, Temple Israel, Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Symphony and Tulsa University. He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Fannie Bankoff, and sister Sylvia Travis. He is survived by his wife, Celia Joy Bankoff; children: Kathy Bankoff Friedland and husband Jeff of Denver, CO, Sue Bankoff Guterman Halpern and husband David, of Tulsa, OK, and Mike Bankoff of Denver, CO, grandchildren: Jason Friedland, Lauren Friedland, Robert Guterman, Frances Guterman, Caroline Bankoff and Alex Bankoff, and great grandchildren: Ryan Guterman, Julien Friedland and Wyatt Friedland. The family wishes to thank Rachel Patterson, personal assistant for over twenty years; caretakers, Aaron Boyd, Kim Hudson, Matt Gawer and Patrick Majher; the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center, especially Jim Jakubovitz and Donna Bailey, and Miller Hospice for their care of Mr. Bankoff. Friends can honor Julius’s memory with contributions to the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center or The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. A Graveside Service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at Rose Hill Cemetery in the Old B’nai Emunah Section. Fitzgerald Funeral Service – Ivy Chapel,

Julius M. Bankoff

November 8, 1915 - November 8, 2010