Sophie Tucker, the veteran Jewish entertainer for six decades in American show business, died at her home here last night of a lung ailment and kidney failure. She was 79. She was a tireless fund-raiser on behalf of numerous Jewish causes throughout her star-studded career.
Born of Russian-Jewish parents named Kalish, Miss Tucker was raised in Boston and Hartford and rapidly rose to fame in the theatrical field as a singer and entertainer. She actively supported the Jewish Theatrical Guild and helped establish schools and youth centers in Israel. She was honored with the planting of a forest in Israel bearing her name.
In 1955, she endowed a chair in the theater arts at Brandeis University through the Sophie Tucker Foundation set up to benefit various charities. During her career, Miss Tucker would not work on the High Holy Days or on other Jewish religious holidays.
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