A Life Well Lived: The Story of Benjamin Gutowitz
There’s an old saying, “Once you smell printer’s ink, you can’t work at any other trade.” But Benjamin Gutowitz, who, along with his brother Louis D., ran an optometry and jewelry store in 1942 at 276 Fulton Avenue in Hempstead, proving that this isn’t always true.
Born in New York City, Ben moved with his family to Amityville when he was just two years old. He grew up there, attending local elementary and high schools. At age 13, Ben pressed his nose against the window of the Amityville Record office (pictured), and not long after, began working there.
Like many young boys starting out in newspapers, Ben’s first job was as a “printer’s devil”—handling dirty work and being the butt of the shop’s jokes. But he quickly advanced. While still in high school, he learned to operate the linotype machines and even took on reporting and editing duties when the boss was away.
After graduating, Ben attended City College of New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He passed the competitive exams for a teaching position in New York City’s public schools with high marks and began teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, also instructing English to immigrants at evening school.
Interestingly, before starting his teaching career, Ben had briefly enrolled in dental school, but left when he received his teaching appointment. After four years in the classroom, he was drafted into the Army in 1918 and sent to Camp Upton. During his service, he was promoted to sergeant and put in charge of English classes for a regiment made up of men from 28 different nationalities, none of whom spoke English.
When the war ended, Ben returned to teaching but stayed only about a year before accepting a friend’s offer to manage a hat factory in Amityville. Though he knew little about factories—or hats—he succeeded in the role. Still, the “printer’s ink curse” nearly reclaimed him when he briefly returned to work at the Amityville Record, but this time he broke free for good.
Around this time, Ben decided to pursue optometry. He completed a two-year course in just one year. His brother Louis D. also trained as an optometrist, and in 1928, they opened their store on Fulton Avenue. They rented space in a brand-new building and have been at the same location ever since, becoming pioneers among Fulton Avenue merchants.
Two years later, following a long family tradition, the Gutowitz brothers expanded their business to include jewelry. Their father had operated a jewelry store in Amityville for more than 50 years, and their grandfather was a jeweler in Russia. Ben continued this legacy proudly.
Though Ben skillfully advertised his optometry work by always wearing the latest eyewear styles, he was more understated when it came to jewelry—wearing only a modest tie pin and a snake-coiled ring on his left hand.
Ben was married to the former Florence Bessell of Glen Cove, and they lived on Parsons Drive with their two children, Alan, and Maurice.
Despite his busy work life, Ben found time to maintain the grounds of their home and personally oversaw all the interior decorating. Reflecting on his life, Ben said in a 1942 interview, “It’s been an interesting journey. I graduated college in 1914—that’s a long time ago—but looking back, I’ve enjoyed it all. I believe there are plenty of good years ahead, and I hope they’re just as wonderful as the ones that have passed.”
And unlike many stories that end with someone returning to their first love, there was no going back to the newspaper business for Ben. The “printer’s ink curse” was finally broken. He was happy serving the community through optometry and jewelry.