Sid Cherniss

July 8, 1899 - August 29, 1963

Sidney A Cherniss, 64, a Los Angeles attorney who had lived in the Pasadena area for nearly 30 years, died Thursday morning after a six-week illness. His home was at 1500 South Marengo Avenue, Pasadena.

Mr Cherniss was the chairman of the Metropolitan District Draft Board during World War II and also served on the Pasadena Draft Board. He served in the Army in World War I.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he came to California for the first time at the age of six. He attended South Pasadena High School, L.A. Polytechnic High and was a graduate of USC and USC Law School. He had lived in Pasadena the last four years and in San Marino for 25 years before that. He was active in the sports field and the USC athlete program and sponsored many boys through college.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Helen Van Pelt Cherniss; three sons, Sidney A Cherniss, Jr (SPHS '39), South Pasadena, deputy district attorney in Pasadena; Charles Cherniss (SPHS '45), business editor of the Independent and Star-News, and Thomas G Cherniss (SPHS '50) of Rialto, sales representative for Richfield Oil Company; a daughter, Jacqueline Hirsh (SPHS '41) of North Hollywood; two brothers, P.D. Cherniss and H.S. Cherniss, and 12 grandchildren.

He was a past president of the USC Law Alumni, past commander of the Culver City American Legion post, a past director of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce and of the Trojan Club, Legion Lex of USC, Skull and Dagger (USC honorary society).

He was a member of the Los Angeles, Pasadena, and California bar associations and was admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity and attorney for the Peace Officers Protective Association.

Other memberships included San Marino Masonic Temple 685; Pasadena Shrine Club, Al Malaikah Shrine Temple, San Marino OES 554, San Marino Legion post; Santa Monica BPOE, Peace Officers Association, Variety Club, High 12 Club of Pasadena, Southern California Baseball Association, Southern California Hot Stove League, International Footprinters Association and Los Angeles Athletic club.

South Pasadena Review, September 2, 1963