Samuel Levi Goldenberg

Samuel Levi Goldenberg was a wealthy American businessman and Titanic survivor who lived a life of international travel, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. Born on September 8, 1864, in New York City, Goldenberg’s journey through life took him from the bustling streets of Manhattan to the elegant boulevards of Paris and the sunny shores of the French Riviera.

Early Life and Background

What was Samuel Goldenberg’s family background?

Samuel Goldenberg came from a Jewish immigrant family with German roots. His father, Levi Goldenberg (1827-1884), was a lace importer who arrived in the United States around 1846. Samuel’s mother, Sarah Weinberg (b. 1832), was also of German origin. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Samuel was exposed to the world of business from an early age.

The Goldenberg family included five children:

• Julius (b. 1853)
• Hannah (b. 1854, later Mrs. Louis Fischer)
• Ellen (b. 1856)
• Augusta (b. 1859)
• Samuel Levi (b. 1864)

How did Samuel Goldenberg’s career develop?

Following in his father’s footsteps, Samuel entered the lace-importing business. By 1894, he had established himself in Paris, representing the family firm Goldenberg Brothers & Co., which was based at 109 Fifth Avenue, New York. This international experience would shape his future life and business endeavors.

Titanic Journey

Why was Samuel Goldenberg on the Titanic?

Mr. and Mrs. Goldenberg boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912, as first-class passengers. They were en route to attend the French Bull Dog of America show on April 20, scheduled to be held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Their ticket (number 17453) cost £89 2s 1d, a substantial sum at the time, and they occupied cabin C92.

What were the Goldenbergs known for besides their business?

The Goldenbergs were well-known dog fanciers. Their kennel name was “Nellcote,” and they often judged in shows, specializing in English Toy Spaniels and French Bulldogs. This passion for dogs would remain a constant throughout Samuel’s life, influencing his later philanthropic activities.

Fate During the Disaster

How did Samuel and Nella Goldenberg survive the Titanic sinking?

The Goldenbergs’ survival story is both dramatic and controversial. They were rescued in lifeboat 5, but the circumstances of their escape were unusual. According to Mrs. Goldenberg’s account in the New York Herald on April 21, 1912:

Mrs. Goldenberg ran out on deck. Mrs. Goldenberg, who had not waited to dress, but had only pulled a skirt over her night dress, was helped into one of the first boats by Mr. Goldenberg, Mr. Ismay and one of the Titanic’s officers. She begged her husband to follow her, but he refused. The boat was unfilled when the crew started to lower it, according to Mrs. Goldenberg, and she urged her husband to take a place, as other men had done. “When I saw that he was not coming,” said Mrs. Goldenberg, “I called, ‘For God’s sake say goodby to me then,’ and suddenly Mr. Ismay and one of the crew seized Mr. Goldenberg and threw him over the side. He managed to catch the boat ropes and I and others pulled him in…”

This account suggests that Samuel Goldenberg was essentially forced into the lifeboat, contrary to the “women and children first” policy that was generally followed during the evacuation.

What did the Goldenbergs do immediately after their rescue?

Once aboard the Carpathia, Mr. Goldenberg sought out the ship’s barber to purchase toiletries. Upon arriving in New York, the couple was met by friends and colleagues but refused to discuss their ordeal with newspaper reporters. Remarkably, they proceeded to attend the French Bull Dog show as originally planned.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster affect the Goldenbergs’ lives?

Following the disaster, the couple briefly returned to France and spent time recuperating in Switzerland. By 1917, they were living in Villefranche-sur-Mer and also spent time in Monaco. Samuel’s 1920 passport indicates that he had previously lived at 5 Rue Chalfrin (Avenue du Bois-de-Bolougne) while residing in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

What became of Samuel Goldenberg’s later life and career?

Samuel’s life took several turns in the years following the Titanic disaster:

• By 1921, he had resettled permanently in the USA, living at 109 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan.
• He continued to travel despite ill health in later years.
• Samuel and Nella eventually divorced.
• He remarried to Edwiga Grabówska, a lady of Polish nobility, and resettled in Nice, France.

Legacy and Philanthropy

How did Samuel Goldenberg contribute to society in his later years?

Known for his charitable nature, Goldenberg made several notable contributions:

1. He became president of the Canine d’Savoie, continuing his lifelong passion for dogs.
2. Goldenberg founded a charity for those afflicted with blindness, demonstrating his commitment to helping others.

Samuel Levi Goldenberg passed away in Nice on October 11, 1936, at the age of 72 (seventy-two). He was buried in Cimiez Cemetery, Cimiez, alongside his second wife, Edwiga, who had died less than a year earlier on November 30, 1935. Interestingly, his obituary in an unidentified newspaper mistakenly referred to Edwiga as the spouse who had accompanied him on the Titanic, a final twist in the tale of this remarkable Titanic survivor.