| Nathan Ancell | |
| Birth Name: | Nathan Ancelewitz |
| Birth Date: | 22 August 1908 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Columbia University (BA) |
| Known For: | Co-founder of Ethan Allen Namesake of the Ancell School of Business |
Nathan S. Ancell (August 22, 1908 – May 31, 1999) co-founded the Ethan Allen furniture company with his brother-in-law, Theodore Baumritter, in 1932. Together, the two men pioneered the concept of selling furniture in room-style settings and built the Ethan Allen company.[1] Today, Ethan Allen has sales of nearly $1 billion.[2]
Born Nathan Ancelewitz, Nathan S. "Nat" Ancell grew up in New York and was Jewish. In 1932, he and his brother-in-law started a small housewares company. The two bought a bankrupt furniture manufacturer in Beecher Falls, Vermont a few years later. Ancell attended Columbia College in New York City, New York and graduated in 1929.[3]
Ancell was known as the father of the gallery concept, where furniture was placed in real-life settings in furniture stores. The company vision statement illustrates his viewpoint in how to conduct business: "To promote dreams not just furniture-to help consumers have the attractive homes they want, regardless of the station in life."[4] [5]
The family sold the Ethan Allen company to Interco in 1980.[6] Ancell continued as manager and later as an advisor until the company was sold again in 1989.[7]
In 1982, he was honored by Western Connecticut State University, who named the Ancell School of Business after him following his donation of $900,000. Afterwards, he taught ethics and marketing at the school.
Ancell served on the board of Brandeis University for 25 years. He funded a chair in physics and a fellowship in physics, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in 1990 and the Distinguished Community Service Award in 1988.[8] [9]
He established the Florence and Theodore Baumritter Chair in Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He was also a benefactor and received an honorary degree.[10]
Ancell also served as co-chair of the UJA-Federation Board of Directors.