Benjamin Buttenwieser
Benjamin Joseph Buttenwieser | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 1991 (aged 91) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, philanthropist, civic figure |
| Known for | Banking at Kuhn, Loeb & Co., philanthropy, civic leadership |
Benjamin Joseph Buttenwieser (October 22, 1900 – December 31, 1991) was a distinguished American banker, philanthropist, and civic figure based in New York.
Background
Born into a notable Jewish family, Buttenwieser was the son of Joseph L. Buttenwieser and had an elder sibling, Lawrence B. Buttenwieser. His family was part of the elite circle known as "our crowd," which comprised the leading 100 German-Jewish families in New York City.
At just 15 years old, he enrolled at Columbia College and completed his studies in 1919.
Career
Buttenwieser began his professional journey in 1919 by joining the investment firm Kuhn, Loeb & Co., where he advanced to the position of general partner from 1932 until 1949. His service during World War II included a tenure in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Proficient in German, he was appointed Assistant United States High Commissioner responsible for political and economic reconstruction in Occupied Germany between 1949 and 1951. His corporate governance roles included board memberships at Revlon, Benrus Watch, and Tischman Realty. Starting in 1952, he held a limited partnership at Kuhn, Loeb & Co., continuing until its merger with Lehman Brothers in 1977.
In 1938, he assumed the presidency of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York (currently known as United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies) for two years, following a family tradition established by his father and brother. He also contributed as a member of the American Jewish Committee's executive committee and served as trustee for both Lenox Hill Hospital and the New York Philharmonic. Furthermore, he was a governor within the Investment Bankers Association.
Awards
- 1967: Alexander Hamilton Medal awarded by Columbia College's Association of Alumni
- 1976: Honorary Doctorate conferred by Columbia University
Legacy
In recognition of his commitment as a long-serving Trustee and clerk of the Trustees at Columbia University, Buttenwieser funded the establishment of the Buttenwieser Professorship in 1958 to honor his father, Joseph.
Personal and death
In 1929, he wed Helen Lehman, daughter of Arthur Lehman, who was senior partner at Lehman Brothers. Helen was among the pioneering women admitted to the City Bar Association of New York and became the inaugural chairwoman of the Legal Aid Society in 1979. The couple had four children: their daughter Carol Helen Buttenwieser Loeb (1933–1955), who passed away at age 22, along with three sons—Lawrence B., Peter L., and Paul A. Buttenwieser.
Helen L. Buttenwieser notably served as legal counsel for Alger Hiss, and their joint activism resulted in Benjamin being listed on the master list of Nixon political opponents. He passed away at age 91 due to a heart attack on December 31, 1991, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.