Progressive political, civil rights activist owned boutiques
Janet Kreisman was a woman for whom freedom, justice and fair play meant everything.
A progressive political and civil rights activist, she was at the same time a keen business owner who parlayed a $5,000 loan into a million-dollar retail empire within a decade.
Ms. Kreisman also had the courage of her convictions as one of the only residents of her tony neighborhood to welcome a group home for people with disabilities when others fought against it.
“I just had such respect and admiration for her. She really fought for the things she believed in,” said Liz Healey, of Squirrel Hill, a fellow Pittsburgh 14th Ward Independent Democratic Clubmember.
Ms. Kreisman, of Squirrel Hill, died April 5 of complicationsfrom a fall. She was 95.
She was born and raised in Philadelphia, where even from a young age, she was taught that she could be selfsufficient.
“They really didn’t have a lot of money, but she didn’t know that growing up,” said her daughter Julie Freeman, ofPoint Breeze.
After graduating from West Philadelphia High Schoolin 1944, Ms. Kreisman, nee Friedman, attended night school at Charles Morris Price School of Advertising in Philadelphia while working days in retail sales. She eventually rose in the retail industry to become an advertising copywriter while finding her passion for civil rights and progressive politics.
She was in many ways ahead of her time, her daughtersaid.
“She talked store owners into letting her write copy for their ads,” she said. “I have childhood memories of being taken to Vietnam War protests and pro-civil rights marches. She taught us to be completely colorblind. She really was a remarkable person.”
In the early 1950s, Ms. Kreisman wrote and produced a half-hour television fashion show called “Your Key to Happiness,” which consisted mostly of beauty tips and fashion advice, said her grandson Alex Goldblum,of Squirrel Hill.
From 1961 to 1963, the family lived in Santiago, Chile, where Ms. Kreisman’s former husband worked mappingthe Andes Mountains.
By 1963, they had relocated to Squirrel Hill. Ms. Kreisman found work in advertising for a hosiery and lingerie shop before she opened her own fashion boutique, a New York Citybased franchise called Paraphernalia, in 1968.
Her original boutique on Meyran Avenue in Oakland skyrocketed in popularity as the first local shop to carry miniskirtsin the 1960s.
For those who don’t follow fashion,that was a big deal.
“She was a mover and shaker with incredible fashion sense,” said Rose Sweeney, who worked alongside Ms. Kreisman for many years as a shop manager. “She was likely the first woman [in local retail fashion]to become a millionaire.”
By 1977, the business had expanded with locations at South Hills Village and Downtown — and two shops situated simultaneously at opposite ends of Monroeville Mall.
Ms. Kreisman’s two teenage daughters also worked in the business and reaped some of the delightful bonuses.
“We had some of the best shoes ever,” said her daughter, who still owns a pair of 8inch red suede platform heels fromthe shop. “We were very well-dressed, and all of the employees left with great wardrobes,too.”
The dual shops in Monroeville Mall carried different merchandise, with one catering mostly to young women, while the other offered maternity and children’s clothing, footwear and accessories.
But “JK” — as she was known — gave more than just a job to her employees, Ms.Sweeney said.
“JKwas a precious person. She was like a second mother to all of us,” said Ms. Sweeney, who worked with her mentor for about 19 years. “She taught me so much about the industry. It led me into representing wholesale companies. She was very instrumental in my career and she was just so easyto work for.”
Ms. Kreisman sold the business in the 1980s and opened a boutique called The Glitzy Collection in Swissvale, where she sold costume jewelry and women’s fashion,her grandson said.
She later took a job with a mail order pharmacy until her retirement at the age of 80.
Ms. Kreisman was also active in Democratic politics, co-founding the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club in 1964 with a group of like-minded people. She served as president of the club and as a Democratic committeewoman in the 1970s.
Though her accomplishments were many, it was Ms. Kreisman’s determination to do the right thing that Ms. Healey most admired about her friend.
When a neighbor once knocked on her door asking Ms. Kreisman to sign a petition against a proposal to bring a group home for the disabled into their neighborhood, her reaction was the oppositeof what the neighbor washoping to hear.
“She said, ‘This is wonderful! We should do this. We should be making sure that all of the members of our community are welcome here and belong here,’” recalled Ms. Healey. “It just impressed me so much. It seemed like everybody else was against it. It’s such a rare personwho would do that.”
The group home eventually was built, and Ms. Kreisman served on its governing board,Ms. Healey said.
Along with her daughter and grandson, Ms. Kreisman is survived by another daughter, Erika Kreisman, of Squirrel Hill, and a granddaughter.
Her funeral was Friday. A memorial service is being planned.