Henry H. Arnhold
Henry Arnhold | |
|---|---|
| Born | Heinrich-Hartmut Richard Gustav Arnhold 15 September 1921 Dresden, Germany |
| Died | 23 August 2018 (aged 96) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, benefactor |
| Known for | Chairman of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder; philanthropy |
Heinrich-Hartmut Richard Gustav "Henry" Arnhold (September 15, 1921 – August 23, 2018) was a prominent American banker and benefactor. Originating from Dresden, he was the fourth offspring of Lisa and Heinrich Arnhold. The Arnhold family controlled Arnhold Brothers, a major private banking institution in Germany established in 1864. In 1931, this bank combined with S. Bleichröder to create Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder.
In 1941, Arnhold escaped from German-occupied Norway to the United States. During World War II, he served in U.S. military intelligence as one of the Ritchie Boys. Following the war, he became involved with the family’s New York-based enterprise, Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, eventually holding the position of chairman starting in 1960. In 1967, he provided initial capital for the First Eagle Fund NV, which was managed by George Soros.
Philanthropy
Arnhold funded the library at The New School, known as the Arnhold Forum, as well as Arnhold Hall. In 2012, he played a crucial role in preserving the Mannes School of Music by opposing then-president David Van Zandt’s plans to close it. Together with his wife, he contributed part of their Meissen porcelain collection to the Frick Collection. After the passing of his brother Rainer, he took leadership of the Mulago Foundation, an organization Rainer had established. Additionally, Arnhold made noteworthy donations to his hometown of Dresden.
Family
Arnhold wed Clarisse Engel de Janosi in 1947. They had two children: John and Michele (Shelly), who died in 2007. His siblings included a brother, Ranier, and three sisters—Esther, Ruth, and Sigrid; Esther’s son is conservationist Peter Seligmann.