Bruce I. Hochman, a former president of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, died Aug. 11 at the age of 72. Hochman, a tax attorney, founded the Beverly Hills firm of Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez. He also elicited high praise for his commitment to charitable work and his leadership in the Jewish community.
Hochman served as general chair of the United Jewish Fund campaign in 1980, and as president of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles for 1985-1986. Among his many achievements in that capacity, Hochman oversaw the launching of The Jewish Journal as an independent newspaper.
John Fishel, the current Federation president, said of Hochman, "There are no volunteer leaders in the Los Angeles Jewish community who felt more passionately than Bruce Hochman about the involvement of young adults. He understood that passing on the legacy of Jewish commitment was vital to our future." Hochman continued to serve as an important fundraiser and leader for the United Jewish Fund and other organizations throughout his life.
The UCLA School of Law named Hochman its Alumnus of the Year in 1981; a member of the school’s inaugural class in 1952, he was the first UCLA law student to pass the California Bar exam. Among the many honors he received in his career was the lifetime achievement award from the taxation section of the California State Bar. He was a sought-after speaker on legal and tax matters, highly regarded for his straightforward manner and his honesty.
Bruce Hochman is survived by his wife, Harriet; daughters Nancy and Jennifer; sons, Nathan and David; and eight grandchildren.
