Labor Lion Gotbaum Dies; Built Up DC 37, Helped Rescue City

Victor Gotbaum, one of the giants of the city labor movement who as executive director of District Council 37 played a pivotal role in rescuing New York from the brink of bankruptcy, died April 5 of a heart attack at his home in Manhattan after a long illness. He was 93.

Mr. Gotbaum built DC 37, which had become a major player in city government under predecessor Jerry Wurf, into the largest municipal union while offering members a growing array of services including an in-house dental clinic and a legal-services program and the road to college degrees through the College of New Rochelle. He more than tripled its membership, which reached 125,000, after succeeding Mr. Wurf in 1965 through successful organizing campaigns to represent hospital workers and clerical employees. He was greatly aided by Lillian Roberts, who proved a charismatic organizer in the drive to persuade Health and Hospitals Corporation personnel to vote for DC 37 as their labor representative.