Leroy Browm Raffel

Leroy Browm Raffel (96), co-founder of Arby’s Restaurants, passed away on March 21, 2023.

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1927 to Ann and Jacob Raffel, he grew up in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He lived in Youngstown, Ohio, until 1978, when he retired to Miami.

Married to Shirley (Shankey) Balbot Raffel for 73 years, he is survived by four children, Ken Raffel (Claire Oppenheim), Janet Raffel (David Sandmel), and Jim Raffel (Rachael) of Portland, Maine, and Nancy Raffel Osherow (Mark) of Boca Raton, Florida, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. His greatest joy was spending time with family.

He enjoyed tennis, golf, racquetball, and skiing. He and Shankey were avid bridge players and loved to visit casinos.

Leroy grew up in the restaurant business, living in the Leslie Hotel in New Castle, Pennsylvania, one of several small hotels and bars operated by his father. Leroy attended the Riverside Military Academy in Georgia and the Wharton School of Business where, he said, “I became an expert in poker, craps, and getting by without too much study.” He served in the Navy during WWII as a discharge officer.

He and his brother Forrest (Fuzzy) built a successful restaurant equipment company, Raffel Brothers, supplying restaurants, schools, turnpike restaurants, and hospitals. In the early 60s, the Raffels decided to explore the growing fast-food industry. They visited Kelly’s Roast Beef in Revere Beach, Massachusetts, where customers were lined up for the delicious roast beef sandwiches. They decided that night to develop a chain of roast beef restaurants.

The brothers focused on one sandwich: roast beef, sliced thin and piled on a sesame seed bun. It sold for 69 cents when a Mcdonalds' hamburger was 19 cents. Their vision was an upscale fast-food restaurant with better food and ambiance and the best hospitality. The first Arby’s opened in 1964. The name came from the initials of their business, Raffel Brothers. Arby’s was an instant success.

In 1969, the company faced some setbacks and went into Chapter 11; however, the brothers successfully brought Arby’s back to profitability. When asked how he was able to turn Arby’s around, Leroy said, “because I’m one tough son of a bitch.”

Leroy was active in the Jewish community. The CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation said: “Leroy had a quiet confidence... He was also the source of unending encouragement and wise counsel that combined his keen intellect and business acumen with his commitment to Israel and the Jewish people.”

He will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Arrangements by Levitt-Weinstein Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel.