Robert Menschel Explained

Robert Menschel
Birth Date:c.
Death Date:27 May 2022[1]
Alma Mater:Syracuse University
Occupation:Investment banker, philanthropist
Spouse:Joyce Menschel
Relatives:Richard Menschel (brother)
Ronay A. Menschel (sister-in-law)
E. W. Priestap (nephew-in-law)

Robert B. Menschel (1930-2022) was an American investment banker and philanthropist. He had a 50 year relationship with Goldman Sachs as a Partner or Senior Director. The author of a financial book, and the winner of the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

Early life

Robert Menschel was born circa 1930.[2] His father was a real estate investor. He has a brother, Richard, who is also a Goldman Sachs senior director and philanthropist.

Menschel graduated from Syracuse University's College of Business Administration in 1951.[3]

Career

Menschel began his career at Goldman Sachs in 1954.[4] When it became a public company in 1999, Menschel earned $20 million in shares.[5] He is now a (retired) senior director.[4]

Menschel is the author of Markets, Mobs & Mayhem: A Modern Look at the Madness of Crowds, prefaced by William Safire. While presenting historical examples of societal hysteria,[6] Menschel suggests picking stocks by focusing on "value investing, [...] a strong franchise, a defined strategy that focuses on a core competency, and consistent sales and earnings."[2]

Philanthropy and political activity

Menschel was first elected to the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University in 1981. There, he served as a voting trustee for more than two decades, becoming a trustee emeritus and part of a select group of honorary trustees.[7] He financially supported the Light Work photography center, Robert B. Menschel Media Center,[8] and the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery.[3] [9]

Since 1977, he has been at various times the Chairman, President, Trustee and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Museum of Modern Art as well as former Chairman of its Photography Committee, where he has donated 162 photographs.[10] He assisted Larry Siegel in founding the Midtown Y Photography Gallery in 1972 as a corridor gallery at the Emanu-El Midtown YM-YWHA on 14th Street.

He serves on the board of trustees of the NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital.[11] He is the namesake of The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium at the Council on Foreign Relations.[12]

With his brother, Richard, Menschel won the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.[13] Menschel and his wife donated over $700,000 to Democrats in 2010.[14]

He is the former Board President of The Dalton School, Chairman of the Board of Guild Hall of East Hampton, Long Island, and a member of Bill Clinton's President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Personal life

Menschel's wife Joyce is the namesake of the Joyce F. Menschel Photography Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Passing of Robert B. Menschel: Syracuse Graduate, Trustee, Philanthropist and Financial Icon | Syracuse University News . 14 June 2022 .
  2. News: Lenzner. Robert. Menschel Doesn't Run With The Crowd. February 16, 2018. Forbes. March 18, 2003.
  3. News: Korey . Eileen . Passing of Robert B. Menschel: Syracuse Graduate, Trustee, Philanthropist and Financial Icon . 13 June 2023 . . 14 June 2022.
  4. Web site: Announcing the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Honorees. Carnegie Corporation of New York. February 17, 2018. August 25, 2015.
  5. News: Strom. Stephanie. Fees and Trustees: Paying the Keepers of the Cash. February 16, 2018. The New York Times. July 10, 2003.
  6. News: Markets, Mobs & Mayhem: A Modern Look at the Madness of Crowds. February 16, 2018. Publishers Weekly. September 9, 2002.
  7. Web site: Board of Trustees. Syracuse University. February 16, 2018.
  8. Web site: Menschel Media Center . Syracuse University Libraries . 13 June 2023 . en.
  9. News: Robert B. Menschel (1929-2022): In Memoriam . 13 June 2023 . . 27 May 2022.
  10. Web site: The Shape of Things: Photographs from Robert B. Menschel. MoMA. February 16, 2018.
  11. Web site: Board of Trustees. NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital. February 17, 2018.
  12. Web site: The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium. Council on Foreign Relations. February 16, 2018.
  13. Web site: Richard L. Menschel and Robert B. Menschel. Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. 22 May 2017. February 15, 2018.
  14. Web site: Top Individual Contributors: All Federal Contributions. . OpenSecrets. February 17, 2018.
  15. Web site: Joyce F. Menschel Photography Library. Metropolitan Museum of Art. February 17, 2018.