Samuel Gottesman
David Samuel Gottesman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Munkacs, Hungary (present-day Ukraine) |
| Died | April 21, 1956 (aged 72) |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, philanthropist, merchant |
| Known for | Founder of Central National Bank; donor of Dead Sea Scrolls to Israel; philanthropy in New York Public Library and Jewish organizations |
David Samuel Gottesman (born February 22, 1884 – passed away April 21, 1956) was an American financier, philanthropist, and merchant in the pulp and paper industry, originally from Hungary. He was frequently referred to as Samuel Gottesman or D. Samuel Gottesman.
Biography
Gottesman entered the world in Munkacs, Hungary (present-day Ukraine), as the son of Mendel Gottesman and Sarah Fischgrund. In 1885, he relocated to the United States and became involved in his father's enterprise, M. Gottesman & Company, which specialized in paper products. He died on April 21, 1956.
Banking
As a prominent banker, Gottesman played a key role in founding the Central National Bank located in New York City; this institution ultimately became part of JPMorgan Chase & Co.. Additionally, he held directorship positions at both the Eastern Corporation and Rayonier Inc.
Philanthropy
Gottesman was widely recognized for his generous contributions to various causes, including the New York Public Library and multiple Jewish organizations. Among his notable donations is the establishment of the D. Samuel Gottesman Library at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
A significant philanthropic act was his donation of the Dead Sea Scrolls to the State of Israel, where they are safeguarded within the Shrine of the Book. The importance of these scrolls was initially identified by his sister-in-law, Esther G. Gottesman, who advocated for their acquisition. The shrine, situated near the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, was financed through a foundation created by Gottesman's descendants as a tribute to his legacy.
Family
Samuel Gottesman’s family includes notable figures such as his nephew billionaire David Gottesman, grandson sports psychologist Steven Ungerleider, and great-granddaughter physician and film producer Shoshana R. Ungerleider.
His spouse, Jeane Herskovits Gottesman, succumbed to cancer in 1942 at the age of 49, one year following their granddaughter Jenifer’s birth; Jenifer also passed away due to cancer in 1991.
His daughter Celeste Ruth Gottesman (1913–2013) was a distinguished collector and patron of modern art based in New York City. She ended her first marriage with Jerome John Altman in 1935 before marrying architect and philanthropist Armand Phillip Bartos. In 1958, Celeste established the Pinewood Foundation, named after her father’s estate located in Lawrence on Long Island, New York.