In a career that spanned five decades, Mr. Josephson handled the advertising for more than 500 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, among them the original productions of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, A Delicate Balance, That Championship Season, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Fantasticks, Dancin', Deathtrap, Glengarry Glen Ross and Driving Miss Daisy. He worked with nearly every notable producer and theatre owner in the business, everyone from Billy Rose to Joe Papp.
Donald Josephson was born in Elizabeth, NJ, on Nov. 19, 1928. He graduated from Seton Hall University. Mr. Josephson worked briefly in the advertising production department of Abraham & Straus before landing a similar job in 1954 at the venerable theatrical entertainment agency Blaine-Thompson. He worked his way up through the ranks at Blaine-Thompson, eventually becoming a vice president.
In 1978, Blaine-Thompson closed and Mr. Josephson moved to Ash/LeDonne along with several other Blaine-Thompson alumni. In 1984, Mr. Josephson left Ash/LeDonne with Fred Golden and Jon Bierman to form The Golden Group as the theatrical advertising division of the film agency Diener/Hauser/Bates.
Also an accomplished musician, he recorded several Noel Coward songs for longtime client Circle in the Square's 1982 production of Present Laughter starring George C. Scott, and for Circle's 1984 revival of Coward's Design for Living,. Through the years he was also known to accompany luminaries like Joseph Papp and Bette Davis at opening night and other industry parties.
Mr. Josephson retired from theatrical advertising in 1994, and began a second career in residential real estate. Mr. Josephson is survived by his longtime companion, Beryl Seidenberg of Manhattan; a sister, Ann (Robert) Kranich of Harrisburg, PA, nieces Betsy Kranich (James) Lehrman of Venice, CA and Nancy Kranich McElroy of Marblehead, MA, nephew Laurence (Valerie) Kranich of Albany, NY, and six great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 PM at Frank E. Campbell, 1076 Madison Avenue at 81st Street, New York City.
