Jack A. Benaroya | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 11, 1921 Montgomery, Alabama |
| Died | May 11, 2012 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Spouse | Rebecca Benaroya |
| Children |
Donna Benaroya Alan Benaroya Larry Benaroya |
| Occupation | Founder of the Benaroya Company |
Jack A. Benaroya (July 11, 1921 – May 11, 2012) was a noted philanthropist and prominent civic leader in Seattle, Washington.
Biography[]
Benaroya was born to Lebanese Jewish immigrants in Montgomery, Alabama[1][2] but spent his childhood in California before moving to Seattle at the age of 12.[1] Benaroya attended Seattle's Garfield High School.[3] After graduating, he took a job at his family's beer distributorship and then went on to serve with the United States Navy in the Philippines during World War II.[1] Upon his return, he became involved in real estate by building post offices in the region which was experiencing a post-war boom; however, his fortune was earned by building industrial parks, a concept not yet seen in the northwestern United States.[1] In 1956, Benaroya established the Benaroya Company which would become the largest commercial real estate developer in the state of Washington.[1] In 1984, he sold his real estate portfolio for $315 million shifting the focus of the company to venture capital.[1]
Benaroya was an early investor in Starbucks.[1]
Philanthropy[]
Benaroya was a former director of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce; the United Way of King County; Temple de Hirsch Sinai; Congregation Ezra Bessaroth; the Stroum Jewish Community Center; and the Pilchuck Glass School.[1] He was a supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International; the University of Washington Medical Center; Children's Hospital and Medical Center; Lakeside School; and the Jewish Federation and Council of Seattle. He funded the Benaroya Hall, facility for the Seattle Symphony which opened in 1998; and the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle which opened in 1999.[1]
Personal life and death[]
Benaroya was married to his wife Rebecca for over seventy years. They had three children: Donna Benaroya, Alan Benaroya, and Larry Benaroya.[1] In the years before his death, Benaroya was slowed by Parkinson's disease.[4] He died on May 11, 2012.[1][5]
See also[]
- Manning's Cafeterias
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Pryne, Eric (May 12, 2012). "Obituary: Jack Benaroya, 90, was a prolific developer and quiet philanthropist". https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituary-jack-benaroya-90-was-a-prolific-developer-and-quiet-philanthropist/.
- ↑ Beit Hatfutsot: The Museum Of The Jewish People. "The Jewish Community of Seattle". http://dbs.bh.org.il/place/seattle.
- ↑ Seattle Times: "School spotlight: Garfield High School" By Marc Matsui May 27, 2003
- ↑ Chesley, Frank (May 11, 2012). "Benaroya, Jack Albert (1921-2012)". Essay 7419. HistoryLink. http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7419.
- ↑ JT News: "Jack Benaroya, 1921-2012: A leader who built a community" by Joel Magalnick May 23, 2012
Notes[]
- Forbes, 27 October 1986.
- Seattle KingCounty Realtors: 1st Citizen Award Recipients
- Seattle Times Article, May 11, 2012: Philanthropist and developer Jack Benaroya has died
External links[]
- Benaroya Research Institute Retrieved 2006-11-12.
- The Benaroya Companies. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
- "MetropoLIST 150:People Who Shaped Seattle". Seattle Times. October 14, 2001. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/metropolist_p2.html. Retrieved 2005-11-12.
The original article can be found at Jack Benaroya and the edit history here.