Hermann Merkin
Encyclopedia
Hermann Merkin was a Jewish-American businessman and philanthropist
.
, and founded Merkin & Company, an investment firm. He met and married Ursula Breuer
in 1950 in -New York city
and had six children, three sons and three daughters, and at the time of his death he had 20 grandchildren. He lived in New York City
for the rest of his life with frequent trips to Israel
for Jewish reasons. Although he was known to many people as an investment banker, the actual bulk of his fortune came from his ownership of 37 per cent of Overseas Shipholding Group
, which owns and manages the second largest fleet of transatlantic oil tankers in the world. Consequently, he was actually not so much a banker, as a shipping magnate.
and the two were very involved in the founding of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue
in Manhattan
. He and his wife "Ulla" sponsored the well-known Merkin Concert Hall
in New York City
and also gave generously to Mount Sinai Hospital
, Yeshiva University
- sponsoring a chair in memory of his father Leib Merkin and a school
in memory of his late father-in-law
Isaac Breuer
. The school is (IBC) or Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies is an undergraduate program. He served on Yeshiva University
's Board of trustees for over three decades and for a time held the position of chairman. He also gave generously to Re'ut and many other Jewish charities; they were particularly interested in furthering Jewish education through philanthropic gifts.
.
Merkin died at age 91
, New York City
of congestive heart failure
.
He is the father of noted businessman and philanthropist J. Ezra Merkin
and of writer and critic Daphne Merkin
.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Biography
Merkin's family fled Germany to escape Nazi persecution and came to New York City in 1940. Soon after coming to the United States, Merkin joined the Army as an intelligence and counterintelligence officer. After the war he purchased a seat on the New York Stock ExchangeNew York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
, and founded Merkin & Company, an investment firm. He met and married Ursula Breuer
Ursula Merkin
Ursula Merkin was a German-born, American-Jewish philanthropist.-Biography:She was born in Frankfurt, Germany to Isaac Breuer, a noted German Rabbi, as Ursula Breuer...
in 1950 in -New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and had six children, three sons and three daughters, and at the time of his death he had 20 grandchildren. He lived in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for the rest of his life with frequent trips to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for Jewish reasons. Although he was known to many people as an investment banker, the actual bulk of his fortune came from his ownership of 37 per cent of Overseas Shipholding Group
Overseas Shipholding Group
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. is one of the largest oil tanker operating companies in the world. It is based in New York City....
, which owns and manages the second largest fleet of transatlantic oil tankers in the world. Consequently, he was actually not so much a banker, as a shipping magnate.
Charity work
Merkin was a good friend of Herman WoukHerman Wouk
Herman Wouk is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author of novels including The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance.-Biography:...
and the two were very involved in the founding of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue
Fifth Avenue Synagogue
The Fifth Avenue Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue located at 5 East 62nd Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.-Founding:...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He and his wife "Ulla" sponsored the well-known Merkin Concert Hall
Merkin Concert Hall
Merkin Concert Hall is a 449-seat concert hall in Manhattan, New York City. The hall, named in honor of Hermann and Ursula Merkin, is part of the Kaufman Center, a complex that includes the Lucy Moses School, a community arts school, and the Special Music School , a New York City public school for...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and also gave generously to Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
, Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
- sponsoring a chair in memory of his father Leib Merkin and a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in memory of his late father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
Isaac Breuer
Isaac Breuer
Isaac Breuer was a rabbi in the German Neo-Orthodoxy movement of his maternal grandfather Samson Raphael Hirsch, and was the first president of Agudat Israel Workers.- Biography :...
. The school is (IBC) or Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies is an undergraduate program. He served on Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
's Board of trustees for over three decades and for a time held the position of chairman. He also gave generously to Re'ut and many other Jewish charities; they were particularly interested in furthering Jewish education through philanthropic gifts.
Religion
Merkin was a devoutly Orthodox Jew, and regularly attended a shiur (Torah lecture). He was highly active in his synagogueSynagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
.
Merkin died at age 91
91
Year 91 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Glabrio and Traianus...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
.
He is the father of noted businessman and philanthropist J. Ezra Merkin
J. Ezra Merkin
Jacob Ezra Merkin is a former money manager and financier. He was a close business associate of Bernard Madoff, and is alleged to have played a significant part in the Madoff fraud. He served as the Non-executive Chairman of GMAC until his resignation on January 9, 2009, at the insistence of the...
and of writer and critic Daphne Merkin
Daphne Merkin
Daphne Miriam Merkin is a literary critic, essayist and novelist. Merkin is a graduate of Barnard College. She also attended Columbia University's graduate program in English literature....
.
Sources
- Merkin's death notices at the New York Times
- Merkin's obituary at the New York Times