A. Gutman, 93, head of fabric firm

Alvin "Vene" Gutman, 93, of Lafayette Hill, a business executive and community leader, died at home Friday, April 22, the day before his 67th wedding anniversary.

Mr. Gutman was president and later chairman of the board of Pressman Gutman Co. The firm, which wove, dyed, and printed fabric for clothing manufacturers, was established by his family more than a century ago. He spent more than 50 years with Pressman Gutman, which had offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Bala Cynwyd.

After retiring in the 1990s, he was a consultant for CMS Cos.

Mr. Gutman grew up in West Philadelphia and graduated from Friends Select School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. He and his wife, Mary Bert Siegel, met at a Harvard-Dartmouth football game and married in 1944. "They had a magical love affair for 67 years," their daughter, Jane, said.

Mr. Gutman's wife was active in the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Day Care Services. In 1991, he made a donation toward renovations for the Federation's center in Melrose Park, which was named the Mary Bert Gutman Early Learning Center in his wife's honor.

Mr. Gutman was past president of Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, and helped establish the museum of Judaica there. He funded the Gutman Diabetic Institute at Albert Einstein Healthcare Foundation.

He served on the board of the Free Library of Philadelphia and for decades served on the board of Philadelphia University, which honored him with a Lifetime Innovation Award. He was the recipient of numerous other awards, including an honor from Operation Understanding, which works to develop understanding between African Americans and young Jewish people.

Following his son Paul's death in a plane crash in 1990, Mr. Gutman was the benefactor of the Paul J. Gutman Library at Philadelphia University, then the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.

"His belief was that you try to be successful in business so you can give to causes that have meaning to you and will benefit society," his daughter said.

He enjoyed vacationing with his family in South Royalton, Vt., she said.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Gutman is survived by a son, Jim; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St.