Max Stern (businessman)
Max Stern (1898–1982) was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist who established and built the Hartz Mountain Corporation.
Max Stern | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1898 |
| Died | 1982 (aged 83–84) Manhattan, New York |
| Resting place | Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, Westchester County, New York |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | High School |
| Occupation | Founder — Hartz Mountain Corporation |
| Spouse(s) | • Hilda Lowenthal • Ghity Amiel Lindenbaum (1950 - 1982) |
| Children | • Leonard N. Stern • Stanley Stern (deceased) • Gloria Kisch • Marcel Lindenbaum (stepchild) • Armand Lindenbaum (stepchild) • Maidy Rosenblatt (stepchild) • Henry Lindenbaum (stepchild)(deceased) |
| Parent(s) | • Caroline Stern (mother) • Emanuel Stern (father) |
Early life and education
He was born to a Jewish family in Fulda, Hesse, Germany, to parents Emanuel and Caroline Stern. He emigrated to the United States in 1926 fleeing the religious prejudice that he experienced in Germany.[1]
Career
Stern founded the Hartz Mountain Corporation, a large pet products manufacturer and real estate development company.[1] Stern was also the leader of Yeshiva University for 41 years.[1]
Personal life
Stern was twice-married:
- His first wife was Hilda Lowenthal (born 1922 in Eschwege, Germany) who emigrated to New York in 1935. The couple had three children: Stanley, Leonard, and Gloria. All were reared in the Jewish tradition.[2]
- In 1950, he married Ghity Lindenbaum (née Amiel). They remained married until Max's death in 1982. Ghity was born into a Jewish family in Lithuania where she married her first husband, Nathan Lindenbaum in 1928. They had four children: Marcel, Maidy, Henry, and Armand. In 1940, fleeing Nazi Germany, the family emigrated to the United States settling in New York City. Nathan died in 1946. Her father, Moshe Avigdor Amiel, was chief rabbi in Antwerp, Belgium and later became the chief rabbi of Tel Aviv.[3]
Philanthropy
As a leading Jewish philanthropist, he helped many charitable organizations both in the U.S. and Israel.
Stern founded the Stern College for Women — the undergraduate women's college of arts and sciences of Yeshiva University, located in New York City, New York, which is associated with Modern Orthodox Judaism — with a major grant, in honor of his late parents Emanuel and Caroline Stern.
The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, located in Jezreel Valley, Israel, is named after him.
Religion
Stern was a communal lay leader.
Death
He died in 1982, age 83 or 84, leaving his son, Leonard N. Stern, to carry on the family business. He is interred in the Sharon Gardens Division of Kensico Cemetery.
References
- Jewish News Archive: "Max Stern Dead at 83" May 21, 2982
- Entrepreneurship: "Leonard Stern took over the family business Hartz Mountain Pet Company from his father in 1959. By the early 1980s, he had expanded the company's focus beyond pet foods to make it America's leading pet supply manufacturer and name brand" by Stacey Patton August 17, 2012
- New York Times: "Ghity Lindenbaum Stern, 94, Philanthropist" July 18, 2002