Max Edward Lipman (abt. 1905 - 1984)

Born about 1905 in Pukhovichi, Igumen Uezd, Minskaya Gubernya, Rossiyskaya imperiya

Ancestors

Husband of Pauline Virginia (Bornbum) Nelson — married 1929 (to 1933) in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Husband of Edith Faye Dodson — married 15 Jan 1946 (to 25 Sep 1963) in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada, United States of America

Descendants

Died 25 Sep 1984 at about age 79 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jana Shea [send private message]

Max E. Lipman has Jewish Roots.

Biography

“Love him, or hate him... a truly unique character, and not one most people are likely to ever encounter -- let alone have as an important influence!” - John F. Lipman

Visionary, con artist, mama’s boy, maverick. Max E. “Maxie” Lipman has been described by these terms (and numerous others) and yet many details of his life remain a giant question mark, even to his own children.

Nearly nothing is known of Maxie’s earliest years, including his exact birth date.

He spent his first four years in Pukhovichi, a shtetl in the Minskaya Gubernya of the Russian “Pale of Settlement” (now Minsk Voblast, Belarus), where the nation’s Jews were annexed. His father immigrated to America when he was a year old. Maxie and his mother remained behind in a time of serious unrest and brutal pogroms until his father could send for them three years later.

Maxie's name was given as Mottel Lebczik on the passenger list for the "Russia" which arrived 15 Jul 1909 at Ellis Island, New York, sailing from Libau, Latvia.^[1] His Hebrew name was very likely Mordechai, but he was called Motke and Maxie by the family.

Early Years

Maxie attended the Shurtleff School and Carter Junior High in Chelsea, Massachusetts. But soon after, troubles began.

At age 15, he was reported missing by his mother.^[2] This disappearance may have coincided with a family legend of Max "breaking away" from the Jewish faith and refusing to participate in his Bar Mitzvah. It may be that at this time he decided to drop out of high school.

Three years later, Maxie found himself in trouble with the law when he was arrested and charged for stealing an automobile. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and served his time in the Deer Island House of Correction.^[3][4][5]

Marriage, Family and Early Businesses

Max’s first business venture was to run Lipman's Service Station, a garage and limousine service. He ran it in partnership with his younger brother, George and the business was likely owned by his oldest half-brother, Israel.

His first marriage to Pauline Bennett occurred around 1929, as they were enumerated together in the 1930 federal census. Their only child, Larry, was born in 1931. But by 1940, Pauline had remarried Edward Nelson.

The marriage likely dissolved around 1933. That year, Max is found in Los Angeles as a witness to his half-niece, Freda Goldman’s first marriage.

He also found himself in trouble with the law again later that year. He was imprisoned in San Quentin for writing bad checks as a bookkeeper and was paroled nearly two years later.^[6]

By 1937, Maxie was back in Massachusetts and working again in a garage. He was in a car accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian and was initially charged with technical manslaughter, but all charges were dropped.^[7] His father died two months later.

In the mid-1940s, he forged a strong business partnership and deep friendship with noted publisher, Felix Guggenheim. Together, they founded the Multiplex Manufacturing Company and began producing plastic goods. Later the company expanded to farming, machinery, and producing orange oil.^[8]

Max married his second wife, Edith Dodson, on 15 January 1946. They had two children, John and Mary.

The Property Development Years

His close alliance with Felix Guggenheim began to show strain by the mid-1950s. Guggenheim was often overseas and their orange oil manufacturing business idea was not as successful as hoped.^[9][10] Max also seemed more tied up with a newly acquired motel - the El Rancho Motor Hotel in Yuma, Arizona - that he and Guggenheim purchased together.

He expanded the modest 36-room motel by building two 20-unit apartment buildings behind it.^[11][12]

For the next decade, he was engaged in property development and management for several motel/hotels under the business name Max E. Lipman Enterprises:

• Holiday Inn in Escondido, California^[13][14]
• Vista Del Sol in Palm Springs, California^[15][16]
• The Ranch Inn AKA Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada^[17][18]
• Bel Congo Motel in Costa Mesa, California;
• Royal Roman Inn in Anaheim, California;
• Starlite Motor Hotel, Los Angeles, California^[19][20]

It also marked a period of health issues (Max was hospitalized when a mechanical crane hit him in the head) and family loss. Both of his parents in-law died in 1954 and Max's own beloved mother died in 1956.

By 1960, he had severed ties with Felix Guggenheim and his second marriage failed around this same time, ending in divorce in 1963.

Later Years

Maxie was a serial entrepreneur who also tried his hand at owning a broasted chicken franchise and, in later years, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he was an executive vice president and chief operating officer for Culligan International water treatment services.^[21][22]

It was during this stable stretch of nearly two decades with Culligan International that Max married a third time in 1975 to Charlsye Adele Sharp^[23][24], but financial woes caused his third marriage to end in the summer of 1981.^[25][26]

Final Years

Maxie was a larger than life character. And his numerous stories, which at times seemed difficult to believe true, only hinted at what was a long and colorful existence filled with extreme achievement and dark struggles with failure. Like the mythical phoenix, he would rise from ashes only to burn himself to the ground and rise again... and again. He often burned those closest to him as well.

Sadly, Max spent his final years in poor health, financially destitute and estranged from his family. He died alone in Las Vegas, Nevada on 25 September 1984.^[27]

Research Notes

Maxie always celebrated his birthday on Christmas, but also often stated that he was born on "the Russian Christmas". He gave his birth year as either 1905 or 1907. His death certificate gives a birth date of December 8, 1904 - which probably came from his Social Security records. He was listed as being four years old when he immigrated.

He may have been born on January 7, 1905 - January 7 is the traditional Russian Orthodox Christmas, and it is possible that this date was confusedly applied to a birth year of 1907 and December 25th. Max’s younger brother, George was born on December 26th and it is quite likely that their birthdays were celebrated together, adding to the confusion. However, Russia was still using the Julian calendar until 1918, so it could very well be true that he was born on 25 Dec 1904 under the Old Style date (which would be 7 Jan 1905 under the New Style date).

Sources

1. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", digital images, FamilySearch (Online: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 2018), [Original source: United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, "Passenger Manifest for the SS Russia", 15 July 1909, Ellis Island, New York, New York, USA, Lines 7 -11, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington DC: National Archives Record Service, 1944-1956), Roll 1302, Vol. 2870-2871, List 15, p. 173 (Note: split into 2 digital images - see image 815 for second part)
2. ↑ "News Items from Chelsea", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Chelsea", The Boston Globe, Wednesday, 14 Jan 1920, p. 9]
3. ↑ "Lipman Appeals 13 Months' Sentence", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Lipman Appeals 13 Months' Sentence", The Boston Globe, Monday, 28 May 1923, p. 6]
4. ↑ "Lipman Given 18 Months' Sentence", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Lipman Given 18 Months' Sentence", The Boston Globe, Friday, 21 Dec 1923, p. 9]
5. ↑ "Lipman Gets 18 Months For Stealing An Auto", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Lipman Gets 18 Months For Stealing An Auto", The Boston Globe, Saturday, 22 Dec 1923, p. 9]
6. ↑ "California, U.S., Prison and Correctional Records, 1851-1950", digital images Ancestry.com (Operations: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014), [Original source: California State Archives, "San Quentin State Prison Records, 1850–1950", ID #R135, Department of Corrections, San Quentin State Prison, "Inmate Photographs and Mug Books, Book 18, 55127-57972", "Identification Cards, 55191-56640, Prisoner number 55218", "Prison Registers, 1931-1934"]]
7. ↑ "Medford Man Killed By Car", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Medford Man Killed By Car", The Boston Globe, Tuesday, 2 Feb 1937, p. 1]
8. ↑ "Felix Guggenheim Papers", Box 23,6, Doheny Memorial Library 230, University of Southern California Libraries, Los Angeles, California, photocopies provided by Michaela Ullmann, Exile Studies Librarian in the possession of his daughter, Mary
9. ↑ "Top Officials Invited to County Smog Meet", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Top Officials Invited to County Smog Meet", Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, Friday 31 Dec 1954, p. 3]
10. ↑ "Smog Violations In The Valley Cost $150", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Smog Violations In The Valley Cost $150", Valley Times, Tuesday 25 Jan 1955, p. 2]
11. ↑ "Motel Units To Be Built", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), [Originally published: "Motel Units To Be Built", Arizona Republic, Sunday, 19 February 1956, p. 71]
12. ↑ "Two Apartment Buildings Are Planned in Yuma At $250,000", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), [Originally published: "Two Apartment Buildings Are Planned in Yuma At $250,000", Arizona Daily Star, Thursday, 9 February 1956, p. 24]
13. ↑ "Certificate of Business Fictitious Firm Name No. 21759", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), [Originally published: "Certificate of Business Fictitious Firm Name No. 21759", Times-Advocate, Tuesday, 25 September 1956, p. 7]
14. ↑ "Corporate Filing", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations Inc,, 2012), [Originally published: "Corporate Filing", Times-Advocate, Monday, 10 October 1960, p. 5]
15. ↑ "Oceanside Man Plans Big Hotel", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Oceanside Man Plans Big Hotel", The Desert Sun, Thursday 4 Nov 1954, p. 8]
16. ↑ "Escondidan Buys Palm Springs Motel", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), [Originally published: "Escondidan Buys Palm Springs Motel", Times-Advocate, Monday, 18 November 1957, p.5]
17. ↑ "Vista del Sol Owner Buys 160-Room Motel in Las Vegas", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Vista del Sol Owner Buys 160-Room Motel in Las Vegas", The Desert Sun, Wednesday 12 March 1958, p. 16]
18. ↑ "Holiday Inn Owner Buys Vegas Motel", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), [Originally published: "Holiday Inn Owner Buys Vegas Motel", Times-Advocate, Saturday, 5 April 1958, p.2]
19. ↑ "Opened", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Opened", The Los Angeles Times, Sunday 5 April 1959, p. 134]
20. ↑ "Local Motel Owner Sets April 1 for Opening of LA Unit", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Local Motel Owner Sets April 1 for Opening of LA Unit", Weekly Times-Advocate, Friday 13 March 1959, p. 10]
21. ↑ "People On The Move...", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "People On The Move...", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Monday, 23 May 1977, p. 14]
22. ↑ "On The Move: Max E. Lipman", digital image, [Originally published "On The Move: Max E. Lipman", Lexington Herald-Leader, Sunday, 3 Jul 1977, p. 41]
23. ↑ "Ohio, Marriage Abstracts, 1970, 1972-2007", Ancestry.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010), [Original source: Ohio Department of Health, "Ohio Marriage Index, 1970 and 1972-2007", (Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, 2008), <http://www.ancestry.com>
24. ↑ "Marriage Licenses", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Marriage Licenses", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Saturday, 10 May 1975, p. 36]
25. ↑ "Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007", Ancestry.com (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010), [Original source: Ohio Department of Health, "Ohio Divorce Index, 1962-1963, 1967-1971 and 1973-2007", (Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, 2008)
26. ↑ "Suits Filed", digital image, Newspapers.com (Online: Ancestry.com, Inc., 2012), [Originally published "Suits Filed", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, 23 July 1981, p. 43]
27. ↑ "Death Certificate for Max E. Lipman", 25 September 1984, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, File #51693, Clark County Health District, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, photocopy in possession of Jana Shea