Max Fisher
Encyclopedia
Max Martin Fisher was a businessman, philanthropist, and benefactor/alumnus of the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. He spent much of his life raising money for philanthropic and political endeavors and was a supporter of charitable and civic organizations. His skill at diplomacy kept him connected to every administration since President Dwight D. Eisenhower
’s on Middle East and Jewish issues. Max Fisher died about 11:30am in his home surrounded by family in Franklin, Michigan
.
Fisher was born in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
to Russian immigrant parents and grew up in Salem
, Ohio
, where his father owned a clothing store. He attended The Ohio State University on a football
scholarship and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1930. In 1933, Fisher joined his father's oil reclamation business in Detroit as a $15-a-week salesman before forming his own company. He grew the business into one of the largest gas station chains in the Midwest before selling the business in 1959 to Aurora Gasoline, a company Fisher would chair for 27 years. He was known for his personal Latin mantra: "Sic Trans Gloria."
Following the sale of Aurora to Marathon Oil
for $40 million, Fisher invested his fortune in real estate after retiring from business in 1963 where he sat on the board of Comerica
, the consumer and investment bank, and Sotheby's
, in addition to serving as the Honorary Chairman of United Jewish Communities
(UJC), Council of Jewish Federations, and the American Jewish Committee. Fisher supported Jewish and general causes worldwide and played a major role in almost every major Jewish communal organization. He was also the subject of articles, debates, TV documentaries, and a biography, entitled “Quiet Diplomat” by Peter Golden.
For decades Fisher also served as a trusted advisor to U.S.
presidents and Israel
i prime ministers, rallying for causes from the Six-Day War
to Ethiopia
n Jewry. By quietly forging new ties between Washington
and Jerusalem, Fisher pioneered a new era in American Jewish activism and politics and was considered the elder statesman of North American Jewry.
and includes a public high school for the performing arts center called The Max. In 1977, he joined with Taubman and Henry Ford II to buy the 73000 acres (295.4 km²) Irvine Ranch south of Los Angeles for $337 million; Fisher's group would sell the property six years later for an estimated $1 billion.
He also leveraged around $20 million to finance The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business
for development of a new six-building business campus that opened in 1998. An additional pledge of $5 million was given to the Fisher College of Business in February 2005 to support Master of Business Administration
programs.
Fisher served as national chairman of UJC's predecessor organizations, the United Jewish Appeal
(UJA) from 1965–1967; president of the Council of Jewish Federations from 1969–1972; and chairman of the United Israel Appeal, Inc.
(UIA) from 1968–1971; and president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit from 1959-1964.
In addition to being honorary chair of UJC, he was founding chairman of the board of governors of UJC's overseas partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel
(JAFI). He was also active in the American Jewish Committee
, B'nai B'rith International, and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
(UIA) and former co-chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel
Committee on Israel; AIDS
activist Mary Fisher
; Phillip William Fisher; Julie Fisher Cummings; and Marjorie Martin Fisher; as well as 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Fisher was the uncle of Stephen M. Ross
, a billionaire New York developer and benefactor of the Ross School of Business
at the University of Michigan.
of $775 million. At 96, he was the oldest member of the Forbes 400
http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=54&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=unset&searchParameter2=unset&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=-numberfield3%2C-numberfield2&resultsSortCategoryName=Age&fromColumnClick=true&bktDisplayField=&bktDisplayFieldLength=&category1=category&category2=category&passKeyword=&resultsStart=1.
, the male sector of the organization). Following the foundation, the chapter was officially recognized by the Fisher Foundation in early April. The chapter's charter number is #337.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
’s on Middle East and Jewish issues. Max Fisher died about 11:30am in his home surrounded by family in Franklin, Michigan
Franklin, Michigan
Franklin is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,150 at the 2010 census. The community is known for large, estate-style homes situated on ravines, as well as its vintage downtown and cider mill....
.
Fisher was born in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to Russian immigrant parents and grew up in Salem
Salem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, where his father owned a clothing store. He attended The Ohio State University on a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
scholarship and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1930. In 1933, Fisher joined his father's oil reclamation business in Detroit as a $15-a-week salesman before forming his own company. He grew the business into one of the largest gas station chains in the Midwest before selling the business in 1959 to Aurora Gasoline, a company Fisher would chair for 27 years. He was known for his personal Latin mantra: "Sic Trans Gloria."
Following the sale of Aurora to Marathon Oil
Marathon Oil
Marathon Oil Corporation is a United States-based oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Principal exploration activities are in the United States, Norway, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Canada. Principal development activities are in the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway,...
for $40 million, Fisher invested his fortune in real estate after retiring from business in 1963 where he sat on the board of Comerica
Comerica
Comerica Incorporated is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA. It has retail banking operations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas; and select business operations in several other U.S...
, the consumer and investment bank, and Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
, in addition to serving as the Honorary Chairman of United Jewish Communities
United Jewish Communities
The Jewish Federations of North America , is an American Jewish umbrella organization representing 157 Jewish Federations and the Network of Independent Communities, 400 smaller Jewish communities across North America. The JFNA was formed from the 1999 merger of the United Jewish Appeal, the...
(UJC), Council of Jewish Federations, and the American Jewish Committee. Fisher supported Jewish and general causes worldwide and played a major role in almost every major Jewish communal organization. He was also the subject of articles, debates, TV documentaries, and a biography, entitled “Quiet Diplomat” by Peter Golden.
For decades Fisher also served as a trusted advisor to U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
presidents and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i prime ministers, rallying for causes from the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n Jewry. By quietly forging new ties between Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Jerusalem, Fisher pioneered a new era in American Jewish activism and politics and was considered the elder statesman of North American Jewry.
Philanthropic activities
In Detroit, Fisher backed the $60 million Max. M. Fisher Music Center, which serves as the home for the Detroit Symphony OrchestraDetroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
and includes a public high school for the performing arts center called The Max. In 1977, he joined with Taubman and Henry Ford II to buy the 73000 acres (295.4 km²) Irvine Ranch south of Los Angeles for $337 million; Fisher's group would sell the property six years later for an estimated $1 billion.
He also leveraged around $20 million to finance The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business
Max M. Fisher College of Business
Fisher College’s MBA curriculum allows students to customize their focus. After learning the core functions of business, students can select from over 100 elective courses to refine their knowledge.Students may concentrate in:...
for development of a new six-building business campus that opened in 1998. An additional pledge of $5 million was given to the Fisher College of Business in February 2005 to support Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
programs.
Fisher served as national chairman of UJC's predecessor organizations, the United Jewish Appeal
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
(UJA) from 1965–1967; president of the Council of Jewish Federations from 1969–1972; and chairman of the United Israel Appeal, Inc.
United Israel Appeal, Inc.
United Israel Appeal, Inc. , is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jewish Federations of North America formerly known as United Jewish Communities UJC...
(UIA) from 1968–1971; and president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit from 1959-1964.
In addition to being honorary chair of UJC, he was founding chairman of the board of governors of UJC's overseas partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel
Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel , also known as the Sochnut or JAFI, served as the organization in charge of immigration and absorption of Jews from the Diaspora into the state of Israel.-History:...
(JAFI). He was also active in the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
, B'nai B'rith International, and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
Family
Fisher's first wife, Sylvia Krell Fisher, died in 1952. He re-married in 1953 to Marjorie Switow Fisher. They had five children: Jane Fisher Sherman, former chairperson of the United Israel Appeal, Inc.United Israel Appeal, Inc.
United Israel Appeal, Inc. , is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jewish Federations of North America formerly known as United Jewish Communities UJC...
(UIA) and former co-chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel
Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel , also known as the Sochnut or JAFI, served as the organization in charge of immigration and absorption of Jews from the Diaspora into the state of Israel.-History:...
Committee on Israel; AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
activist Mary Fisher
Mary Fisher (activist)
Mary Fisher is an American political activist, artist and author. After contracting HIV from her second husband, she has become an outspoken advocate for AIDS prevention and education and for the compassionate treatment of people with HIV and AIDS...
; Phillip William Fisher; Julie Fisher Cummings; and Marjorie Martin Fisher; as well as 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Fisher was the uncle of Stephen M. Ross
Stephen M. Ross
Stephen M. Ross is an American real estate developer. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of The Related Companies, L.P., a New York City-based real estate development company. It is jointly owned by his business partner, Jorge M. Perez. He owns 95% of the Miami Dolphins NFL football franchise and...
, a billionaire New York developer and benefactor of the Ross School of Business
Ross School of Business
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business is the business school of the University of Michigan. Numerous publications have ranked the Ross School of Business' Bachelor of Business Administration , Master of Business Administration and Executive Education programs among the top in the country and the...
at the University of Michigan.
Wealth
In 2004, Max Fisher had amassed a net worthNet worth
In business, net worth is the total assets minus total outside liabilities of an individual or a company. For a company, this is called shareholders' preference and may be referred to as book value. Net worth is stated as at a particular year in time...
of $775 million. At 96, he was the oldest member of the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=54&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=unset&searchParameter2=unset&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=-numberfield3%2C-numberfield2&resultsSortCategoryName=Age&fromColumnClick=true&bktDisplayField=&bktDisplayFieldLength=&category1=category&category2=category&passKeyword=&resultsStart=1.
Other Acknowledgments
In March 2006, a male chapter of BBYO was founded by 12 young men from the state of Michigan with the name of Max Fisher AZA (AZA standing for Aleph Zadik AlephAleph Zadik Aleph
The Grand Order of the Aleph Zadik Aleph is an international youth-led fraternal organization for Jewish teenagers, founded in 1924 and currently existing as the male wing of BBYO Inc., an independent non-profit organization...
, the male sector of the organization). Following the foundation, the chapter was officially recognized by the Fisher Foundation in early April. The chapter's charter number is #337.