[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E1723]]

                  A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE JOHN M. TAXIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 1997

  Mr. FOGLIETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late 
John M. Taxin, an outstanding Pennsylvanian and contributor to the 
unique character of the city of Philadelphia. On August 10, 1997, Mr. 
Taxin passed on at the age of 90 in his beloved city of Philadelphia. 
Born in 1906 as Morris Martin Taxin, he took the name John after the 
workers whom he sold produce to began calling him ``St. John'' for the 
kindness and charity he showed them when they were down on their luck. 
The name John has stuck with him ever since. Selling fruit from the 
back of a horse-drawn cart, Mr. Taxin became an entrepreneur at an 
early age. He soon had a booming wholesale business as one of the 
city's most successful purveyors of produce. During this time, he 
occasionally ate at Old Original Bookbinder's and thought that it could 
really be something special--if only it were run properly.
  In 1940, with two partners, John Taxin bought Old Original 
Bookbinder's and within 5 years he owned the restaurant outright. 
During John Taxin's first year as the sole proprietor, it has been 
reported that Bookbinder's served 650,000 individual meals and 
generated close to $10 million in revenue. John Taxin's hard work, 
shrewd business sense, and genius for public relations made Old 
Original Bookbinder's by the Delaware River, a favorite destination for 
visitors to Philadelphia and it continues to attract a who's who of the 
rich and famous. On any given day in the early years of John Taxin's 
ownership, diners at Bookbinder's might bump into Joe DiMaggio, Frank 
Sinatra or Danny Kaye.
  In addition to his business success, John Taxin was famous for his 
philanthropy, his civic-mindedness, and his kind demeanor. Mr. Taxin 
was a major supporter of numerous charities including: the Juvenile 
Diabetes Foundation, Willow Crest-Bamberger Home for Convalescents, 
Israel Bonds, and St. Joseph's Hospital, where he purchased television 
sets for patient rooms, underwrote development of several wings and 
annually provided Christmas decorations. Quietly, John Taxin offered 
some Philadelphians a second change by providing them with employment 
after a period of incarceration. Of these employees he often told 
friends, ``None of my guys ever let me down.''
  Mr. Speaker, in light of his kind and generous spirit, his many 
successful business ventures and his contributions to the city of 
Philadelphia, I ask that my colleagues join me today in paying tribute 
to the late John M. Taxin.

                          ____________________