Albert Axelrod is the only men’s foil fencer in America to ever reach the world championship finals. With an aggressive, straight-ahead attacking style, Axelrod won a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and was a member of five consecutive Olympic fencing teams in the foil. During the course of his 28-year career, he also won 15 U.S. National Gold Medals.
A heart murmur kept Axelrod from participating in most sports, so his mother encouraged him to learn fencing at Stuyvesant High School in New York. After graduation, he won amateur titles as a member of the Salle Santelli club.
Axelrod served with the Navy during World War II then attended the City College of New York, which had one of the best fencing teams in the nation. He became an electrical engineer for the Grumman Corp., but drove to Manhattan two or three nights each week to practice.
Axelrod died on Feb. 24 from a heart attack. He was 83.
March 5, 2004 by
Albie Axelrod
Categories: Sports
Hi. Albie Axelrod was my dad. It’s really cool to see info about him on your site. Thanks for including it!
I wanted to meet Albert Axelrod an Engineering friend of my DOD Father at CBS in NYC. Instead I’ll only remember the excitement of the Tournaments. Best wishes in the Afterlife.
Dave
My father Lenny Axelrod just passed away and I don’t have many family members I know of. But shortly before my father died he told me he had a cousin named Albert Axelrod that had won gold metals. Then we heard Albert passed and soon after my father also died. So I would be happy to hear from some family if I have any out there?
Shane Axelrod
(702)808-0462
dravin420@earthlink.net
Hi Shane & Stephanie:
My sister Andrea & I are doing research on the Axelrod family and we are your cousins. Our mother was Albert’s first cousin and Lenny’s first cousin (I think). I have kept Albert’s obit from the Times for a year now in order to figure out our family and have just started this project. Would love to hear from you guys. We too heard about Albert’s medals.
–Michele (kassmi@bernstein.com)
I am Albert Axelrod’s brother, Boris. We, too, are looking for family. Stephanie and Michael are my niece and nephew. Let me hear from family members. Boris, March 1, 2005
my name is larry becker.leonard axelrod was my biologial father.I was given up for adoption at birth.Lenny has since passed and I am interested in my family roots.I,d love to hear more about our family.I would like to hear from anyone I may be related to. Thank You Larry
My father was Nelson Axelrad and my uncle was Leonard Axelrad. 1/2 my cousins are Axelrad and 1/2 are Axelrod. Larry Becker please contact me – could your biological father be my uncle?
Larry Becker – My father was Nelson Axelrad and my uncle was Leonard Axelrad. 1/2 my cousins are Axelrad and 1/2 are Axelrod. Larry Becker please contact me – could your biological father be my Uncle Lenny?
EliseAxelrad@aol.com
Hello,
I think my father was a cousin of Henrietta Axelrod, if she was born TCHULOK.
If yes, I’d like very much enter in contact with you.
Hearing from you,
Regards
Xavier
France
Hello,
I think I am a close parent to Albie’s wife, Henriette.
Her aunt should be my grandmother.
Please contact me, xsav@laposte.net
Xavier
Hi I am Larry Becker’s brother. Leonard Axelrod is our father. Our father has always been Axelrod and never went by Axelrad. But I did hear that Axelrod’s and Axelrad’s did have common family blood lines. That the name got mixed up when they came to the US. But again our father was always a Axelrod.