Martin F. Rockmore – Brigadier General, United States Marine Corps

From a contemporary press report: June 29, 1992

Retired Marine Brigadier General Martin F. Rockmore, who led an effort to give scholarships to the children of Marine veterans, died Saturday (June 27, 1992) at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was 74.

Rockmore, a native of Brooklyn, New York, lived with his wife, Ruth, in Chesterfield, Missouri. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1959 and later operated the Wavershoe Trimming Co. at 2128 Washington Avenue.

Rockmore, decorated for service in the islands of the South Pacific in World War II, read a newspaper story in 1962 about a Marine who had been awarded the Medal of Honor but had fallen on hard times and could not afford to send his son to college.

Rockmore organized a dance and started the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Within a few years, hundreds of children were going to college and trade school because of the foundation.

Rockmore also started a series of benefits golf tournaments in St. Louis and other cities. Those events have raised several million dollars for scholarships for several thousand children.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Rindskopf Funeral Chapel at 5216 Delmar Boulevard, and a funeral service will be at 2 p.m. at Shaare Emeth Temple, 11645 Ladue Road. The body will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

In addition to his wife, survivors include four children and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the General Martin F. Rockmore Scholarship in care of the Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation, James Forrestal Campus, Box 3008, Princeton, N.J. 08543.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard