John Bierwirth
John Cocks (Jack) Bierwirth (21 January 1924 in Lawrence, Nassau County, New York – 26 May 2013 in Freeport, New York)[1] was an American lawyer and businessman. Bierwirth was an attorney by education, and a banking and financial expert by trade. He was best known as the CEO of Grumman during the 1970s and 1980s,[2] a period of considerable reduction and downsizing in defense- and space-related industries.
Biography
Bierwirth began his advanced schooling at Yale University, but it was interrupted by World War II. He joined the Navy, ending his service with the rank of Lt (j.g.). He completed his undergraduate schooling at Yale, receiving a degree in 1947 (Class of 45W), then enrolled at Columbia Law School, where he received a JD in 1950.
He began his business career with White & Case, a New York City law firm. He then moved to the New York Trust Company (later merged into Chemical bank), where he became expert in banking-related legal matters.
Bierwirth later joined National Distillers & Chemical Corporation, where he was responsible for creating
In 1972 Bierwirth left ND&CC to become Treasurer of the
He attempted to diversify the company's area of business, building trucks for the US Postal Service, canoes for the recreational market, and city buses for Flxible.[4]
Bierwirth retired from Grumman in 1988, after rising from Treasurer to president, then to Chief Executive, and finally chairman of the company. He lived in Lawrence, where he was born, for the remainder of his life. He died in a Freeport hospice of congestive heart failure.
Personal
Bierwirth married Marion Bierwirth in 1947. She survived him, as also did their four children, John, Warren, Marion and Susan.
He enjoyed sports, participating on college baseball and squash racket teams. In later life he enjoyed tennis and fly fishing.
He participated in public service projects as well. He was on the delegation which eventually persuaded the
References
- ^ Martin, Douglas (29 May 2013). "John C. Bierwirth, Leader of Grumman in Time of Uneasy Transition, Dies at 89". New York Times. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ [1] Obituary - John C. Bierwirth, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 3 June 2013, p. 14
- ^ The city buses became an embarrassment for the company, when cracks developed in their frames and their steering columns.
- ^ [2] "John C. Bierwirth Obituary", The New York Times, 28 May 2013
- ^ [3] "John C. Bierwirth, former Grumman exec, dies at 89", Newsday, 28 May 2013