Yale, Charles (Yallof)

Biography

Charles Yale (born Charles Yallof) was a Jewish pharmacist in Chicago and Denver. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 6, 1916 to parents Hannah and Samuel Yallof, both first generation Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Charles graduated from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois in 1938. His first job was as a pharmacist and store manager for Walgreens Drug Company in Chicago. A college classmate introduced him to Eleanor Gordon, who was visiting from Denver. The two married on April 14, 1940 after a long distance courtship.

During WWII, Charles worked as a drug detail salesman for Galler Drug Company representing various pharmaceutical manufacturers. After the war, he and his partners founded their own wholesale drug company that was sold in the late 1940s. A fire destroyed his next business venture, which left Charles and Eleanor free to move to her hometown of Denver. In 1949, Charles bought the Lambach drugstore on W. Alameda Avenue. Shortly after that, his brother-in-law Sam Hayutin joined as his partner, although he was not a pharmacist. Around that time, the family name changed from Yallof to Yale.

Charles moved Yale Drug to 3000 W. Alameda after a Safeway store vacated. This greatly increased the size of their store. Over the years, Charles' and Sam's wives and all of their children worked at the store, which was open 7 days a week. In fact, in all the years the family owned the store, it was only closed once, for a half-day, for President John F. Kennedy's funeral. During the late 1950s a second store, Yale Pharmacy, was opened at 34th and Downing. Sam Hayutin and Richard Saliman were partners in that venture. The store was later sold to Sam's son, Arnold Hayutin, in the 1960s. Charles purchased Sam's interest in Yale Drug shortly thereafter. He sold the store to longtime employee Chris Christensen in 1967. Yale Drug remained in business, serving Southwest Denver, until the late 1970s.

Charles was also instrumental in helping Donald Griss, a young Jewish pharmacist, become established in the field by helping him get his first pharmacy position with Carl Bomash at Thrifty Drugs.