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May 28, 2004/Sivan 8 5764, Vol. 56, No. 36
Phoenix's first Jewish mayor
IRA MORTON
Special to Jewish News
Phil Gordon, a member of the board of directors of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, is the second Jewish person since Territorial Days to serve as mayor of Phoenix.
The other was Emil Ganz, who was elected to three terms beginning in 1884. At that point in time, the Jewish population of Phoenix numbered about 100 hardy souls.
Ganz was born in Waldorf, Germany, in 1838. At age 16, he and two cousins immigrated to America and settled in Georgia. When the war between the states erupted in 1861, Emil volunteered in the Confederate Army and saw action for three years in numerous historic battles before being captured and confined to the Elmira Prison in upstate New York.
Shortly after the end of the Civil War, Ganz moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he worked as a tailor. In 1874 he moved again, this time to Prescott. There he began a new career in the hotel business and banking. Four years later, Emil moved to Phoenix and by the time he ran for mayor in 1884, was prominent in both fields.
Sylvan Ganz, Emil Ganz's first-born, had three children - all successful and still leading productive lives. Emil Paul Ganz, the eldest, owns and operates a large cattle business in Queen Creek. The second born, Sylvia Ganz Houle, is the former owner of a well-known Phoenix bookstore bearing her name and for many years has been an enthusiastic member of the AJHS board of directors.
The youngest, Joan Ganz Cooney, became world-famous as the creator and longtime producer of "Sesame Street," the most heralded children's television show of all time. She remains involved after all these years as board chairwoman of Sesame Workshop.
Emil Ganz, among the most noted of Arizona's pioneer Jews, remained a force in the Phoenix community until his death in 1922 at age of 83. He is buried in the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery.
Preserving the memories and recording the accomplishments of those who have come before us and those now in our midst, is the sacred mission of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center. For information about membership and activities, call 602-241-7870 or visit www.azjhs.org.
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