West Ashley icon lived a long life filled with devotion to family, Judaism, community service, friends, golf, Duke basketball, and a lifelong poker game
Leon Feldman lived to be 102 years old. He had the stories to go along with this lifetime, and he loved to share them. Born in the apartment above his parents’ grocery store on Meeting Street in 1923, Feldman would only find himself away from his beloved city of Charleston for college, dental school, and military service. He graduated from Duke University, received his D.D.S. from Emory University, and was stationed on Parris Island.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Feldman while researching for my book Byrnes Downs, part of Arcadia’s Images of America series. His dental practice was located on Daniel Street, and of course, there was a story about this.
Dr. Feldman began his dental career in 1947 on Calhoun Street before enlisting in the Navy. He met the love of his life, Marilyn Richman, while on a leave in Savannah. They married and lived for a brief time on Parris Island while he fulfilled his Naval service obligation at the Naval Dental Center there.
They returned to Charleston and he reopened his practice at 161 Calhoun St in 1949. It wasn’t long before P.L. Bootle, of Bootle’s BBQ fame, convinced him that the growing population West of the Ashley River would need access to dental care.
(Story: Dr. Feldman attended Grace Bootle’s funeral in 2004 and recounted this influential conversation to P.L. Bootle’s granddaughter, Ina Bootle.)
In 1949, Feldman and Dr. Moultrie Townsend, a general practice physician, converted a store in Avondale to a medical office. Feldman split his time for a bit between the two locations but it wasn’t long before he settled across the river full time.
(Story: During this time, there was a Pure Oil Station located at the corner of Nicholson St. and Savannah Highway, where Fire Station 10 is today. Their slogan was: “We service your car bumper to bumper.” Dr. Feldman would jokingly use this slogan for him and Dr. Townsend. One day he said this to a patient and she laughed as she had just learned of her pregnancy from Dr. Townsend.)
In 1953, he “made the good investment” and purchased land at 5 Daniel St. from Jack Vane. According to Feldman, Vane already owned commercial buildings on Daniel Street and along Savannah Highway. The businesses located in Vane’s buildings were thriving being next to the neighborhood of Byrnes Downs.
(Story: Feldman claimed to not only be the first dentist practicing in West Ashley; but also having the first building constructed specifically as a dental office in West Ashley.)
Dentistry was good to Feldman and he built a home for his family in 1956 in the neighborhood of Moreland.
(Story: Feldman’s love for Charleston inspired him to work with Mayor Riley on annexation. He walked his neighborhood of Moreland convincing his neighbors that being in the City of Charleston was the right move. When Mayor Riley called Feldman on his 100th birthday, he thanked him again for his efforts.)
He retired from the practice in 1990. His obituary tells of a fun life filled with his devotion to family, Judaism, community service, friends, golf, Duke basketball and a lifelong poker game. Those who knew him have fond memories, and know that he rests in the city he loved under the beautiful oaks at the Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue Cemetery on Sycamore Avenue.
Stories about West Ashley people and their businesses? Contact Donna Jacobs at westashleybook@gmail.com.
