(1917-2002)
Inducted into Sports Hall of Fame 1984
Born in New York City in 1917, Abrahms graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and the City College of New York. He became one of the outstanding table tennis players in the United States and was ranked from 1936-40 by the U.S. Table Tennis Association. In 1938, he won the Metropolitan table tennis singles championship and the U.S. mixed doubles championship. The same year, he was ranked eighth in singles nationally. Unfortunately, a few years later, a back injury cut short his playing career.
John settled in Hartford and took over his father-in-law’s insurance business, which he developed into one of the largest independent family-owned insurance agencies in the country. He received many professional awards. His community service includes serving on the boards of the University of Hartford, the Hartford Stage company, Mount Sinai Hospital, the Hebrew Home and Hospital and as a life member of the Hartford Jewish Federation. The recipient of Brandeis University’s Distinguished Community Service Award and the University of Hartford’s University Medal, he also received the National Conference’s Human Relations Award for fostering relations between Jews and Christians.