James Stillman Rockefeller
Encyclopedia
James Stillman Rockefeller (June 8, 1902 - August 10, 2004) was a member of the prominent U.S. Rockefeller family
.
, his maternal grandfather James Stillman
and uncle James Alexander Stillman served as president of the National City Bank of New York, now Citibank
. His father was William Goodsell Rockefeller
and his mother Elsie Stillman.
He graduated from Yale University
in 1924, where he was elected to Scroll and Key
. That same year Rockefeller captained a crew of Yale teammates, winning a gold medal in rowing
at the 1924 Summer Olympics
in Paris
, France
and appeared on the cover of Time magazine on July 7, 1924. (Dr. Benjamin Spock
, who would later become a famous expert on child-care, was a member of the crew)
On April 15, 1925, he married Nancy Carnegie, grandniece of Andrew Carnegie
. During World War II
, Rockefeller served in the Airborne Command. He had four children: James Stillman Rockefeller, Jr., Nancy Sherlock Carnegie Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie Rockefeller, and Georgia Stillman Rockefeller.
He lived in Greenwich Connecticut
in a 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²) brick Georgian manse, built in 1929, with 11 bedrooms and 16 marble bathrooms on four levels. There are 12 fireplaces, an elevator, an outdoor pool and English gardens.
On August 5, 2004, Rockefeller suffered a stroke
. His advance directives for medical care specified that he not be put on life support. He died at 4am on August 10, 2004, at the age of 102. Rockefeller was survived by four children, fourteen grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
His house was sold in 2004 for $13.4 million dollars and resold again in 2009 for $23.9 million.
(Under each of his successors, the bank's name has changed: George Moore shortened it to "First National City Bank" and formed a holding company, First National City Corp.; under Walter B. Wriston these became "Citibank" and "Citicorp"; under John Reed
the firm merged with Travelers Group to become Citigroup
.
James Stillman Rockefeller also concerned himself with other family investments, and prior to his death was America's oldest living Olympic champion, and the earliest living cover subject of Time magazine.
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
.
Personal life
A paternal grandson of William RockefellerWilliam Rockefeller
William Avery Rockefeller, Jr. , American financier, was a co-founder with his older brother John D. Rockefeller of the prominent United States Rockefeller family. He was the son of William Avery Rockefeller, Sr. and Eliza Rockefeller.-Youth, education:Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York,...
, his maternal grandfather James Stillman
James Stillman
James Jewett Stillman was an American businessman who invested in land, banking, and railroads in New York, Texas, and Mexico.-Biography:...
and uncle James Alexander Stillman served as president of the National City Bank of New York, now Citibank
Citibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...
. His father was William Goodsell Rockefeller
William Goodsell Rockefeller
William Goodsell Rockefeller was a director of the Consolidated Textile Company.-Biography:He was the third child of Standard Oil co-founder William Rockefeller and his wife, Almira Geraldine Goodsell...
and his mother Elsie Stillman.
He graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1924, where he was elected to Scroll and Key
Scroll and Key
The Scroll and Key Society is a secret society, founded in 1842 at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the wealthiest and second oldest Yale secret society...
. That same year Rockefeller captained a crew of Yale teammates, winning a gold medal in rowing
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and appeared on the cover of Time magazine on July 7, 1924. (Dr. Benjamin Spock
Benjamin Spock
Benjamin McLane Spock was an American pediatrician whose book Baby and Child Care, published in 1946, is one of the biggest best-sellers of all time. Its message to mothers is that "you know more than you think you do."Spock was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to try to understand...
, who would later become a famous expert on child-care, was a member of the crew)
On April 15, 1925, he married Nancy Carnegie, grandniece of Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Rockefeller served in the Airborne Command. He had four children: James Stillman Rockefeller, Jr., Nancy Sherlock Carnegie Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie Rockefeller, and Georgia Stillman Rockefeller.
He lived in Greenwich Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
in a 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²) brick Georgian manse, built in 1929, with 11 bedrooms and 16 marble bathrooms on four levels. There are 12 fireplaces, an elevator, an outdoor pool and English gardens.
On August 5, 2004, Rockefeller suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. His advance directives for medical care specified that he not be put on life support. He died at 4am on August 10, 2004, at the age of 102. Rockefeller was survived by four children, fourteen grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
His house was sold in 2004 for $13.4 million dollars and resold again in 2009 for $23.9 million.
Business career
Rockefeller joined the National City Bank in 1930 after working at Brown Brothers Harriman and served as president from 1952 to 1959 and chairman from 1959 to 1967. It was during his tenure that the bank merged with the smaller First National Bank and took the name The First National City Bank of New York.(Under each of his successors, the bank's name has changed: George Moore shortened it to "First National City Bank" and formed a holding company, First National City Corp.; under Walter B. Wriston these became "Citibank" and "Citicorp"; under John Reed
John S. Reed
John Shepard Reed is the former Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Citicorp, Citibank, and post-merger, Citigroup. He is currently the Chairman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Office of Corporation. He was born in Chicago, Illinois,...
the firm merged with Travelers Group to become Citigroup
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
.
James Stillman Rockefeller also concerned himself with other family investments, and prior to his death was America's oldest living Olympic champion, and the earliest living cover subject of Time magazine.