Louis Fanaroff; Magruder's owner
Hyfler/Rosner
BYLINE: Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer
Louis H. Fanaroff, 84, a native Washingtonian who co-owned
the Magruder's grocery store chain, died of respiratory
disease Feb. 4 at Casey House in Rockville.
Mr. Fanaroff, who was born and raised above the family's
grocery store in Anacostia, bought two Magruder's stores in
1967 with his brother-in-law Stanford Steppa. The stores, in
Georgetown and near Chevy Chase Circle, had operated since
1875. Mr. Fanaroff was the businessman in the partnership,
Steppa said, writing checks and keeping the books, and "I
handled the green beans."
His business acumen kept the small chain afloat as giant
national supermarket chains crushed local groceries across
the nation. Magruder's expanded, too, becoming the 10-store
chain it is today. Mr. Fanaroff never seemed to lose a sense
of obligation to the community, his colleagues said, and
enjoyed talking to customers and suppliers who found their
way to his office.
"He would fight you for a dime on a box of strawberries, but
he'd turn around and give you a $20,000 check," Steppa said.
"Our controller tells a story: He came to town, didn't have
a penny to his name. [Mr. Fanaroff] made the down payment on
his house and gave him money to get started. He's working
for us today."
Mr. Fanaroff graduated from Anacostia High School and
enlisted in the Army during World War II, serving in the
European theater. Upon his return, he married and bought the
grocery store in the Wardman Park Hotel, operating it for
several years. He then bought Spund's grocery in the 3400
block of Connecticut Avenue NW and ran that until going into
business with his brother-in-law.
He supported a large number of local and national
organizations, including the American Heart Association,
American Diabetes Association, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day
School, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington,
Hillel of Greater Washington, the University of Maryland and
Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, as well as the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum. He was a member of the Samuel
Gompers Lodge of Almas Temple and was on the board of
Central National Bank.
In recent years, he turned over his part in the business to
his son and son-in-law, Steppa said, but remained in touch
with it. When he visited the hospital recently, a doctor
asked him what day it was, and, according to Steppa, Mr.
Fanaroff paused and answered, "Today must be the second,
because my son told me the checks came in yesterday."
His wife, Helyn Fanaroff, died in 1991.
Survivors include four children, Sunny Polsky, Wendy
Fanaroff, Debby Bortnick and Steven Fanaroff, all of
Potomac; a sister, Thelma Kinland of Bethesda; 12
grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.