Philip Kasloff, a resident of Malibu since 1988, died on Dec. 11 of natural causes at Cedars Sinai Hospital. He was 88.
Kasloff was born on May 15, 1918 in Brooklyn to Nathan and Sonia Kasloff. He attended New York University. A veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Purple Hear and the Bronze Star, Kasloff became passionately involved as an anti-war activist after returning home from Europe.
Kasloff moved to California where, in 1963, he founded Kas-Tex Corporation, an importer/exporter and manufacturer of textiles and drapery. He retired from his position as CEO of his company in 1997.
In his later years, Kasloff devoted himself to various cultural and humanitarian organizations. In 2002, together with his wife, Masako, he founded the Philip and Masako Togo Kasloff Foundation to promote cross-cultural understanding and education between America and Japan. Kasloff was also involved with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Shoah Foundation, the Teak Foundation (which helps economically disadvantaged students in New York), the Japanese-American National Museum in Los Angeles, ACLU and many other organizations.
Kasloff was also awarded the Jabotinsky Centennial Medal at the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom on Nov. 11, 1980, in New York.
Kasloff is survived by his wife of 30 years, Masako Togo Kasloff; son, Mike Kasloff; nephews, Mickey and Dave Jungman; niece, Heidi Jones; sister-in-law, Harue Togo Jones and best friend, George Lichter.
A private memorial service will take place on a boat, and his ashes will be scattered off the shores of Malibu.