1930’s
- Born May 25, 1930 - New York City (with no middle name). Parents: Fagela “Fannie” Stoler, a glove maker and child laborer from age eight in Poland, and Harry Sarnoff from a very large and very poor peasant family in Russia. After immigrating to the U.S. in the 1920s as a seaman, Harry returned to Minsk several times to bring Fannie, his sister and Irv’s grandmother Goldie to the U.S. Fannie and Harry married and had two sons, Abe and Irving. Much of the remaining family perished in WW2.
- Lived in the COOPS - a socialist, mostly Yiddish-speaking, union worker’s cooperative housing colony in the Bronx – setting the direction for his life of social activism and socialist ideals. There were 5 people in a small 4th floor apartment, and the clothes were hung to dry on the roof.
- Member of the Young Pioneers Club - A soviet-based ‘scouting’ club for youth, started and influenced by the teachings of Lenin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin_All-Union_Pioneer_Organization
- In the late 1930’s Fannie took Irv to join picket lines at the docks, protesting the shipment of raw materials to fascist countries like Italy, Spain, Germany and Japan.
1940’s
- As a young volunteer first responder for air-raid warnings during WWII, Irv’s job was to go door-to-door to make sure lights were off. The fear that New York would be bombed was very real. When the program was cancelled, Irv wrote a letter to the Mayor of New York. The mayor’s response letter is included in this website.
- With two teenage friends from the COOPS, Irv snuck onto private grounds to watch the private burial of President Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) at Hyde Park in 1945. FDR was a hero to them. One friend, Billy Nuchow, went on to become a union leader in New York.
- Attended the prestigious (and hard to get into) Bronx High School of Science for one year. The lack of girls in this school was evidently a major drawback for Irv.
- Moved to Los Angeles in 1946 with his parents and only sibling, his beloved brother Abe (June 19, 1927- May 25, 2005). Abe passed away on Irv’s birthday, just after calling with birthday wishes for his little brother.
- In LA Irv attended University High School, lived on Bundy Dr. in West LA and began to get involved in local grassroot actions in the community. Black and Mexican people were being kept out of Santa Monica bowling, and Irv was a regular on the bowling alley picket line to help end this discrimination. This was in 1946 and Irv was just 16. Although he later distanced himself from the Communist Party, he did once deliver "People's World" newspapers, a USA Communist Party publication.
1950’s
- Drafted during the Korean War – Irv refused to sign the “Army Loyalty Pledge,” and instead submitted his own loyalty oath regarding the legitimacy of the war. He was discharged 13 months later from Camp Roberts, with an honorable discharge under a provision labeled “for the convenience of the Army”.
- Married Dorothy Ruth Neff, May 12, 1951 – Stayed married for 65 years! Irv was quite the romantic in the day – and we have the love letters to prove it. They met when they were both members of the Labor Youth League (a Communist affiliated organization).
- Started work as a Southern Pacific Railroad mechanic (job title: carman) just three weeks after being discharged from the Army. Spent the next 25+ years on the job as a railroad mechanic and inspector.
- First 3 kids were born – Nathan Hadley 1951, Susan Lynn 1956, and Sally Ann (now Sascha) 1958.
- Supported the early union organizing efforts of United Farm Workers (UFW) in Delano. Irv and Ruth made trips twice a month to deliver eggs donated by sympathetic Petaluma farmers. UFW led strikes and later called on people all over the world to boycott grapes and head lettuce as a way to support them. The boycott went global, and the Sarnoff kids still feel just a bit of guilt when they eat grapes.
- Co-founder of the San Gabriel Valley Council on Discrimination (COD), focusing on housing and employment discrimination. Black civil rights leaders at the time had challenged whites to push for black rights in white suburbs. Irv, Ruth and others formed the COD to heed this call. The COD successfully supported a “sit-in”, resulting in the Lily’s — a black family — ability to purchase a home in Monterey Park.
- September 5th, 1958 - Testified in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities - Pleaded the 5th. Accused of being a Communist Party member and leader (he wasn’t). He had been a card-carrying member in the 1940's but quickly distanced himself from all political parties, choosing instead to follow his passion on issues of peace and justice.
1960’s
- Irv’s father, Harry (a house painter), passed away - 1960. Irv took on the role of family caretaker.
- Played an active role in the Railroad Carmen’s Union where he served on the Health & Safety Committee battling on-the-job issues such as the lack of water fountains and restrooms, as well as the basic safety practices.
- Founder/Co-Chairman Southern California Peace Action Council (PAC) – Anti-Vietnam War grassroots activist organization. Firebombed offices, slashed tires, broken windows, and even death threats were all part of growing up in the Sarnoff family.
- Last two kids (what were they thinking, right?!) – Harry Alan 1961, Herbert Michael 1965
- Irv and Ruth assisted the struggles of the Freedom Riders in the south gathering and sending provisions whenever possible.
- June 23, 1967 - Leader of an anti-war march against LBJ at Century Plaza Hotel – over 10,000 attended – and things definitely got crazy.
http://bigfins.com/23June1967/
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/23/local/la-me-abcarian-war-protest-20130623
http://articles.latimes.com/1997-06-23/news/mn-6188_1_march-organizers/2
- September 17, 1969 - PAC sponsors march and rally in San Clemente near President Nixon’s Summer White House - Estimated 6,000 in attendance. Permit was denied, but the march happened anyway. Irv ran the program.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88614127@N00/with/5525349790/
1970’s
- Moved family from Rosemead to Eagle Rock (February 1972).
- October 16, 1972 (ruling date) - Lead plaintiff in Sarnoff v. Shultz - A case that was two votes shy from being heard by U.S. Supreme Court. Key argument: Funding of the Vietnam War was illegal without a formal declaration of war. Would have set a fantastic precedent if successful. Lower court ruling was upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the case.
- Ongoing battles with the Southern Pacific Railroad over issues of health and safety of workers.
- On the job back injury put him on permanent disability from the railroad — and full-time as an activist on issues of the arms race, the anti-nuclear movement and the United Nations.
- Co-Founder/Executive Director – Southern California Alliance for Survival – Anti-Nuclear organization.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-nuclear_movement_in_California
- Co-Producer (with Julie Thomson, Peter Yarrow) – Alliance for Survival’s Hollywood Bowl Concerts for Peace called “Survival Sunday” – Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, and many, many others performed. Annual concerts from 1978-1981. Peter Yarrow owned the music, Julie Thompson the production, and Irv the political outreach and vision. This was an early example of the “political rock concert”.
- First grandchild - Emiliano Gabriel (1978)
1980’s
- Peace Sunday – June 6, 1982 - 95,000 people attended concert for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace @ the Rose Bowl – Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Crosby/Stills/Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Bette Midler and Bob Dylan. This was the final stage for the Survival Sunday events, with Irv’s role being focused on organizing Southern California churches and political organizations. Irv’s son Nathan also played a key organizing role in the event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnQ-lubUJRo - Special!
http://waddywachtelinfo.com/PeaceSundayConcert.html
- Irv’s mother, Fannie (“Life is hard then you die”) Sarnoff, passed away - 1983 Fannie once received an award from the Federation of Jewish Women for gathering over a thousand petition signatures in favor of the Stockholm Peace Appeal to ban nuclear weapons worldwide - Irv's passion for peace was definitely in his blood!
- Second grandchild - Morgan Lisette (1984)
- Moved back to his childhood home in West LA (Bundy Dr. and then to an apartment in Santa Monica. Adopted “Dance Home,” free-form dance and the entire dance community as the spiritual center for the second half of his life. Irv took free-form dance classes for over 40 years!
- Executive Director/Co-Founder - Friends of the United Nations (FOTUN), an NGO focused on promoting the United Nations and all its great works, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1985 with Sharon and Jerry Glassman, Andrews Ungerlieder, and Dr. Noel Brown (UN Environment Programme) who later ran the organization as President.
http://www.trunity.net/fotun/
1990’s
- Several “Friends of the UN” Events in Washington DC and New York. Friends of the UN hosted an event on a boat in NY Harbor as a way for developing countries representatives to meet, greet, and exchange ideas.
- As a member of the Board of Advisors of the World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS), Irv traveled to Japan multiple times and developed many close friendships. The WPPS places “peace poles” in cities and villages around the world.
http://www.worldpeace.org/gallery_pp_project.html
- European tour speaking about the International Declaration of Human Rights. The European Journey for Religious Freedom Tour enabled Irv to share his message of tolerance and freedom to young audiences.
- Compiled and edited a reference book titled “International Instruments of the United Nations: A Compilation of Agreements,Charters, Declarations, Principles Proclamations, Protocols, and Treaties Adopted By the General Assembly of the United Nations” - Published by the U.N. Press, Sept. 26, 1997, with the introduction written by Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the U.N.
http://www.un.org/Pubs/modelun/booklist.htm
- Two more grandkids - Jessica Ruth (1997) and Eric Daniel (1998)
2000’s
- One more grandkid: Julia Isabel (Born on United Nations Day in 2001 - Way to go Jules!)
- Friends of the United Nations - 10 December 2005 - Hosted Tolerance Awards Ceremony, New York. Keynote speakers included Irv, Rosie O’Donnel, Dr. Noel Brown and others. Helped facilitate the founding of Peacemaker Corps with Carole Krechman (then Chair of FOTUN).
- Irv was among several featured at an exhibit at the Oakland Museum – “Lifetime of Activism”
- Irv and Ruth moved from Santa Monica in 2008 to Highland Park, and then to Pasadena, to live with their children.
- Continued to speak about the United Nations and to sit on several advisory boards and boards of directors.
- Helped to initiate the World Water Forum with the Southern California Metropolitan Water District (with John Leddy and with support from Tim Brick of MWD) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rg2GY0ivsk
http://www.mwdh2o.com/inthecommunity/education-programs/Pages/World-Water-Forum.aspx
- Focused on Dance, Health, Mentoring, Reading, Friends and Family.
- Two great-grandkids - Gaian (April, 2010) and Amaia (May, 2013)
- Irv had a great last day, including sushi lunch with son Harry, drove himself to the gym, read, watched Donald Trump (which may have been what killed him!) and then suffered a stroke that night and passed away with Ruth, his kids and grandkids at his side the following morning. Just the way he hoped it would happen when his time came.
