Elmer Winter, a former national president of the American Jewish Committee, has died.

Winter, a Milwaukee businessman and philanthropist, died Oct. 22 in Milwaukee following a brief illness. He was 97.

Winter founded Manpower Inc., the first temporary help agency and now a multibillion-dollar firm with 30,000 employees and 4,100 offices in 82 countries.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Following his retirement in 1976, Winter continued to keep regular office hours at the company’s world headquarters in Milwaukee.

Winter served as national president of the American Jewish Committee from 1973 to 1977.

The Committee for Economic Growth of Israel, a nonprofit organization Winter founded more than 30 years ago to promote investment in and trade with Israel, was a hallmark of Winter’s strong commitment to Israel. The idea to launch the group came during Winter’s AJC presidency as he traveled to Israel regularly. He strongly believed that promoting economic development in Israel was a vital mission for American Jews.

“Elmer lived a full and rewarding life of love for his family, his work, his community and a tireless commitment to Israel and the Jewish people,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

Winter, the author of 13 books, attended the 1978 signing of the Camp David agreement and witnessed the handshake between Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat.

He also worked to improve Milwaukee’s central city, including working on projects to help the public schools and provide teens with summer jobs.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount