In brief
John Leonard Goldwater (February 14, 1916 – February 26, 1999) was an American comic book publisher and editor who co-founded MLJ Magazines in 1939 with partners Louis Silberkleit and Maurice Coyne, a venture that evolved into Archie Comic Publications after the 1941 debut of the character Archie Andrews, which he co-created with artist Bob Montana to depict idealized, asexual American teenagers amid the era's superhero and adventure comics.
Orphaned shortly after birth in New York City's East Harlem—his mother died in childbirth and his father soon after—Goldwater was raised by relatives and, during the Great Depression, hitchhiked westward before returning to enter pulp magazine distribution and launch MLJ as a publisher of superhero titles like The Shield and Hangman.
John L. Goldwater was born on February 14, 1916, in East Harlem, New York City, to Jewish parents Daniel Goldwater and Edna Bogart Goldwater. His mother died during childbirth, leaving him motherless from birth. His father, overwhelmed by grief, died shortly thereafter, rendering Goldwater an orphan in infancy.
Goldwater demonstrated commitment to the Jewish community through longstanding involvement with B'nai B'rith, including leadership in its fundraising efforts for combating antisemitism. In April 1971, he was appointed general chairman of the newly formed national women's division of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League Appeal, overseeing initiatives to support the organization's advocacy and educational programs.
