Bernard H. Mendik
American businessman
Bernard Hyman Mendik
|
|
---|---|
Born |
(
1929-05-29
)
May 29, 1929
Glasgow
, Scotland
|
Died | May 28, 2001 (2001-05-28) (aged 71) |
Nationality | American |
Education |
B.A.
City College of New York
J.D. New York University |
Occupation | real estate developer |
Known for |
founder of Mendik Company
Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York |
Spouse(s) |
Annette Silverstein (divorced)
Susan Batkin |
Children | 4 |
Bernard Hyman Mendik (May 29, 1929 – May 28, 2001) was an American real estate developer, founder of the Mendik Company, and chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York . [1]
Biography
Mendik was born to a Jewish family in Glasgow , Scotland, and emigrated to the United States as a child. [1] His father was a handyman . [2] He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science . [2] In 1954, he graduated from City College of New York and in 1959, he received a J.D. from New York Law School [1] where he met Larry Silverstein . [3] After school, he married Silverstein's sister and joined her father's real estate business, Harry G. Silverstein & Sons. In 1966, Harry Silverstein died and Mendik and Larry Silverstein formed Silverstein & Mendik. [4] The partnership was quite successful until Mendik divorced his wife in the late 1970s and the partnership ended. [3] Mendik also cited disagreements over real estate strategies, with Mendik wanting to buy buildings while Silverstein wanted to build. [5] </ref> They hired Jerry Speyer to assist in dividing the assets. [3] Mendik then founded the Mendik Company.
In 1982, he joined the Real Estate Board of New York and in 1992, he served as its chairman [1] until his death. [1] Under his stewardship, the Real Estate Board persuaded the State Legislature to end or reduce real estate-related capital gains and transfer taxes; he also successfully promoted legislation legalizing real estate investment trusts in New York. [1] In April 1997, Mendik folded his company into Vornado Realty Trust becoming Vornado's co-chairman [1] for $654 million in stock and assumption of debt. [2] The combination of the Mendik Company's seven midtown office buildings with 4 million square feet transformed Vornado, then primarily a holder of suburban malls, into a major player in New York City's office market. [1] In October 1998, he resigned from Vornado. [6]
Mendik taught at New York University from 1960 to 1987 [1] and received the Fiorello La Guardia Award for civic achievement presented by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani . [1]
Philanthropy
He endowed a library in his name at the New York Law School; a professorship in otolaryngology at New York University Medical Center ; and supported research centers there and at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center . [1] He served as chairman of the Grand Central Partnership , as a trustee of the Citizens Budget Committee, as vice chairman of the Fifth Avenue Association, and on the board of regents of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine . [1]
Personal life
Mendik divorced his first wife, Annette Silverstein, sister of Larry Silverstein ; they had three children: Laurie J. Mendik, Kevin R. Mendik, and Todd L. Mendik. Mendik's second wife was Susan Batkin; they had one child, Alexander M. Mendik. [1] He was a member of Congregation Emanu-El of New York . [1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Saxon, Wolfgang (May 30, 2001). "Bernard Mendik, 72, Prominent Landlord and Head of Real Estate Industry Board, Dies" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-07-21 .
- 1 2 3 Hutchinson, Bill (May 29, 2001). "Realty Mogul Bernard Mendik". New York Daily News . p. 32. ProQuest 305607794 .
- 1 2 3 Rice, Andrew (April 9, 2001). "Silverstein Recovers: Dark Horse May Win World Trade Center" . The New York Observer . Retrieved 2022-07-21 .
- ↑ "Silverstein Properties, Inc. - Company History" . Fundinguniverse.com.
- ↑ Salmans, Sandra (January 28, 1985). "New Yorkers & Co.; Putting Together City's Biggest Apartment Deal" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved July 21, 2022 .
- ↑ "Vornado announced the resignation of Bernard Mendik as Chief Executive Officer of Vornado Mendik and as Co-Chairman of Vornado's Board of Directors" (PDF) (Press release). Saddle Brook, New Jersey. October 13, 1998 . Retrieved July 21, 2022 .