Senator Hoylman Presents “Veterans Hall of Fame” Award to WWII Veteran and Original Stuy Town Tenant Milton Nussdorf at Jewish War Veterans Annual Memorial Service

Hoylman: “Country and community. As a member of The Greatest Generation in WWII and an original tenant of Stuy Town who built our local community, Milton Nussdorf is well-deserving of this honor.”

“Milton served our nation, not once, but twice. First during WWII and thereafter as a counselor at the VA Hospital helping our service members reintegrate into society.”

NEW YORK – On Thursday, May 28, 2015, State Senator Brad Hoylman presented Milton Nussdorf, a World War II veteran and resident of Peter Cooper Village, with a certificate for being named to the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame. The presentation was made at the Town and Village Synagogue’s annual memorial service of the Jewish War Veterans USA, Post 1, the oldest continuously active veterans’ organization in the county, of which Nussdorf is a longtime member.

Senator Hoylman and Nussdorf were joined in the presentation by Jerry Alperstein, a leader of Post 1 and also a member of the State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame, along with Rabbi Laurence Sebert of the Town & Village Synagogue. (See photo attached)

The New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life. According to the State Senate, “their meritorious service to our nation deserves the special recognition that only a Hall of Fame can provide, as a fitting expression of our gratitude and admiration.” Annually, Senators name a veteran from their district a place in the Veterans Hall of Fame.

Nussdorf, 96, served his country during World War II and beyond by providing care to his fellow service members and veterans as a rehabilitation counselor and psychologist.

State Senator Brad Hoylman said: “Milton Nussdorf has served both his country and community. As a WWII veteran, Milton is a member of The Greatest Generation. Milton’s also an original tenant of Stuy Town, which makes him even more deserving of this honor because we need to pay respect to the men and women who helped build our local community essentially from scratch.”

“Milton aided of our nation, not once, but twice,” Senator Hoylman continued. “First during WWII and thereafter as a counselor at the VA Hospital, helping service members reintegrate into society. On behalf of all of my constituents, I thank Milton for his exemplary service to our country and our community.”

Milton Nussdorf, 96, attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and Manhattan’s City College, where he received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology in 1942. Following his graduation, he entered the Navy Selective Service and got a job as a Personnel Manager in a Defense Plant in Brooklyn owned by General Electric.

In 1944, upon his completion of Basic Training, he was assigned to Brooklyn Naval Hospital, where he provided occupational therapy and rehabilitation counseling to Naval Veterans injured in the line of duty during World War II. During the War he was also assigned to Naval Hospitals throughout the U.S. to counsel disabled Naval personnel. Milton served in the Navy until the War's conclusion in 1945, after which he continued working as a rehabilitation counselor in private practice.

From 1950 to 1955, Milton worked as a Counselor/Psychologist at the VA in Manhattan, where he assisted Veterans with physical and mental limitations incurred during their service reintegrate into society. From 1955 until his retirement in 1968, Milton was a Counselor and Psychologist in private practice.

Milton is happily retired and lives in Manhattan’s Peter Cooper Village, the middle-class housing complex built by Met Life for returning veterans. He is an original resident of its sister complex, Stuyvesant Town, where he lived upon its opening in 1948. He has a daughter, Gail, who attended the presentation at the Town & Village Synagogue and also lives in Peter Cooper Village, and a son, Steven.

###