March 20, 2013

Jerome Oxman, founder of Oxman’s Surplus in Santa Fe Springs dies at 97

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Jerome Oxman with his sons, Murray and Jason.

Jerome Oxman, founder of Oxman’s Surplus in Santa Fe Springs, died of prostate cancer at his Buena Park home on Feb. 22. He was 97. 

Oxman was born in Duluth, Minn., on June 23, 1915. He served in the Army during World War II, working a supply line for the Persian Gulf Command. After the war, he married Miriam Averbook of Superior, Wis., and the couple moved to California in 1947.

After working for a Vernon surplus store, Oxman opened his own mail-order business in 1961, specializing in military and aircraft surplus. He soon opened his business to the public and put his private collection, which he started in 1950, on display as an adjunct military museum. The museum currently features more than 1,500 items from World War I through the current Afghanistan campaign, including a B-25 bomber cockpit, jet fighter ejection seats and a Bullpup air-to-ground missile.

Oxman was involved with B’nai B’rith and ORT and supported Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim and Temple Beth Ohr in La Mirada. He was also past president of the Associated Surplus Dealers, the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce and La Mirada Meals on Wheels, and he served on the board of the La Mirada Community Hospital. 

He is survived by wife Miriam; sons Brian, Murray and Jason; 4 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. 

A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. March 24 at Oxman’s Surplus, 14128 E. Rosecrans Ave., Santa Fe Springs.