leon josephson was born on june 17, 1898, one of six children: ethel, david, louis, lillie, leon, and barney. his jewish parents had immigrated from libau, russian empire (now latvia) in 1900. his father, joseph, a cobbler, died shortly after the birth of barney, the only child born in the states. his mother, bertha hirschfield, was a seamstress. leon attended trenton high school and graduated from new york university law school in 1919.