Murray Schramm, 84, an orphan who worked virtually every day of his life and eventually founded his own printing company, died Saturday in Highland Park Hospital. A Native of New York City, Mr. Schramm was orphaned at the age of 11. He lived with various stepbrothers and sisters until he was 15 years old, when he moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment on the Lower East Side with his older brother. At the age of 15, he talked his way into a job as an office boy at Lionel Trains and, six years later, became a manager of the company’s service department in Chicago. He worked for the company for 25 years, mainly as a salesman. Mr. Schramm helped found Schramm-Harris Printing Co. in the early 1960s. He was an avid golfer and champion pinochle player. An accomplished yarn spinner, he helped open the Solomon Schecter Day Elementary School in Northbrook. He was a member of the Green Acres County Club of Northbrook and the North Suburban Synagogue of Beth El of Highland Park. Survivors include his wife, Sally; daughters Frances Alpert, Phyllis Schramm, Shoshana Friedman; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday in North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, 1175 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park.
