Jack Benaroya

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Jack A. Benaroya
Born(1921-07-11)July 11, 1921
DiedMay 11, 2012(2012-05-11) (aged 90)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationFounder of the Benaroya Company
SpouseRebecca Benaroya
ChildrenDonna Benaroya
Alan Benaroya
Larry Benaroya

Jack A. Benaroya (July 11, 1921 – May 11, 2012) was a pioneering real estate developer who built what became the Northwest’s largest privately-held commercial real-estate empire which he sold in 1984 for $315 million.

After selling his company, he became a venture capitalist and was an early investor in

philanthropist and prominent civic leader in Seattle, Washington.[2]

Biography

Benaroya was born to

Garfield High School.[5] 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.[3]

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.[3]

In 1956, Benaroya established the Benaroya Company which would become the largest commercial real estate developer in the state of Washington.[3] In 1984, he sold his real estate portfolio for $315 million shifting the focus of the company to venture capital.[3]

Benaroya was an early investor in Starbucks.[3]

Philanthropy

Benaroya was a former director of the Seattle

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.[3]

An endowned chair in Israel Studies had been created in his and his wife’s name at the University of Washington, Seattle. In February 2022, it was reported that the endownment was pulled back after the holder of the endowned chair, Prof. Liora Halperin made statements that the Benaroya family disagreed with. UW returning the donation was widely criticized as a dangerous precedent for donor intervention in academia. https://mesana.org/advocacy/committee-on-academic-freedom/2022/02/28/letter-to-the-president-of-the-university-of-washington

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.[3] In the years before his death, Benaroya was slowed by Parkinson's disease.[6] He died on May 11, 2012.[3][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kugiya, Hugo. "Seattle's Coffee King -- In The Beginning Was A Quaint Little Roasting Company. Then Came Howard Schultz". Seattletimes.
  2. ^ "Obituary: Jack Benaroya, 90, was a prolific developer and quiet philanthropist". Seattletimes.com. 11 May 2012. Benaroya became better-known for his philanthropic activities
  3. ^
    Seattle Times
  4. ^ Beit Hatfutsot: The Museum Of The Jewish People. "The Jewish Community of Seattle".
  5. ^ Seattle Times: "School spotlight: Garfield High School" By Marc Matsui May 27, 2003
  6. ^ Chesley, Frank (May 11, 2012). "Benaroya, Jack Albert (1921-2012)". Essay 7419. HistoryLink.
  7. ^ JT News: "Jack Benaroya, 1921-2012: A leader who built a community" by Joel Magalnick May 23, 2012

Notes

External links