H. Bert Mack

H. Bert Mack (1912 - 1992) was an American real estate developer, founder of the Mack Company, and patriarch of the Mack family.[1]

H. Bert Mack
Born1912
Died1992 (aged 79–80)
Palm Beach, Florida
NationalityUnited States
Known forfounder of the Mack Company
Spouse(s)Ruth Kauffman
ChildrenEarle I. Mack
William L. Mack
Fredric H. Mack
David S. Mack

Biography

H. Bert Mack founded the Mack Company[2] where he served as chairman of the board until his death in 1992.[2] In the 1960s, he bought thousands of acres of undeveloped land in the New Jersey Meadowlands and built warehouses and office buildings on it.[2] In April 1989, the Mack family purchased the Texas Rangers in a syndicated deal with Frank L. Morsani from oil tycoon Eddie Chiles for $89 million. The investment group was headed by George W. Bush, the then son of the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush[3] who only had a $600,000 investment in the purchase.[4] In 1997, his sons merged the Mack Company with the Cali Realty Corporation (co-founded by Edward Leshowitz and brothers John J. Cali and Angelo R. Cali)[5] creating Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, the largest office-property owner in New Jersey.[6] His sons (David S. Mack, Earle I. Mack, William L. Mack, and Fredric H. Mack) all became directors of the new entity.[5]

Philanthropy

Mack was an active philanthropist dedicated to Jewish causes.[2] He was a former member of the board of directors of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America; a founder, board member, and trustee of the Hillcrest Jewish Center in Queens County; and a donor to the Jewish Federation/United Jewish Appeal in Palm Beach, Florida.[2] He was a founder of Yeshiva University`s Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the Bronx. He was also a benefactor of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New Hyde Park, New York and St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach.[2] Mack was a member of the New York Statue of Liberty Centennial Commission and was on the board of the New York State Commission to Commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution.[2]

Personal life

He was married to Ruth Kaufman[2] who was also Jewish.[7] They had four sons: Earle I. Mack, William L. Mack, Fredric H. Mack, and David S. Mack.[2][8] Mack and his wife lived in Palm Beach, Florida and Jamaica Estates, Queens. Mack died of lymphoma in 1992 at his home in Florida.[2]

References
  1. New York Times: "H. Bert Mack, 82, Who Helped Develop the Meadowlands, Dies" By ERIC PACE May 10, 1992
  2. Orlando Sun Sentinel: "H. Bert Mack, Businessman, Philanthropist" May 11, 1992
  3. Los Angeles Times: "Chiles Reaches Agreement on Sale of Rangers" August 27, 1988
  4. ESPN: "A series of beneficial moves" By Tom Farrey November 1, 1999
  5. Bloomberg: "John Cali, Co-Founder of Mack-Cali Predecessor, Dies at 95" By Laurence Arnold February 4, 2014
  6. North Jersey.Com: "Office real estate magnate John Cali dies at 95" By Linda Moss February 4, 2014
  7. Capitol Words: "In Honor Of Mrs. H. Bert (Ruth) Mack" by U.S. Representative Gary Ackerman Archived 2014-11-24 at Archive.today May 19, 2000
  8. Legacy: "RUTH MACK Obituary" April 10, 2011
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