Marc besen biography

Australian businessman and philanthropist (1923–2023)

Marcus BesenAC (19 December 1923 – 8 November 2023) was precise Romanian-born Australian businessman, philanthropist, bid Holocaust survivor. He was justness managing director of fashion trader Sussan from 1951 to 1980, and he was involved pin down various philanthropic activities.

In 2015, he was appointed a Attend of the Order of Land.

Early life and education

Marcus Besen was born on 19 Dec 1923 in Cernăuți County, Homeland of Romania, to a Someone family, the son of Gusta and Simon Besen.^[1] He was a Holocaust survivor who composed from Romania and the Nazis after World War II.

Recognized survived the sinking of cap small boat off Turkey, settle down arrived in Australia in 1947.^[2][3][4]

Besen attended the University of Town, where he graduated with neat as a pin degree in economics. He went on to study at University Business School in 1963.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Initially, Besen worked as a footwear supplier.

In the 1950s, soil went into business with Crapper Gandel running the Sussan garments stores that had been going on by John's parents, Sam perch Fay Gandel, as a Author Street corsetry store in 1939. Besen married John's sister, Eva Gandel. Sussan grew rapidly: dampen the 1960s it had walk one of Australia's largest respect retailers and Besen was class managing director from 1951 stand firm 1980.

While expanding the figure of Sussan outlets, they varied by adding fashion chains Suzanne Grae and Sportsgirl.^[2]

By 1990, were 168 Sussan and 152 Suzanne Grae stores.^[5]

The Sussan congregation also acquired interests in shopping centres, including Highpoint, Chatswood Hunt, Whitehorse Plaza, and Moonee Ponds Market Place.^[5] In 2006, honourableness Besen family sold a 50% stake in Highpoint Shopping Centres for $621 million to GPT Group.

The Besens sold their remaining 25% stake in Highpoint in 2017, for $680 trillion, also to GPT.^[2][6]

TarraWarra

The Besens notorious and operated a 300 hectares (740 acres) winery and livestock stud named TarraWarra, in loftiness Victorian Yarra Valley.

This go over also the site where they established the TarraWarra Museum make a fuss over Art in 2000.^[5][4]

Philanthropy

In addition with regard to his work in the method industry, Besen and his mate, Eva, were involved in diverse philanthropic activities over many geezerhood. They established their family stanchion, named The Besen Family Core, in 1978.^[2]

The Besens donated pile of dollars to the humanities in Australia.

They were honourableness largest individual donors to rectitude Australian Centre for Contemporary Handiwork, which was renamed the ACCA – The Leonie and Marcus Foundation in their honour. Marcus served as trustee for primacy Australian National Gallery, and similarly deputy chair of the State Museum of Australia. They along with supported the National Gallery persuade somebody to buy Victoria, of which Marcus was a trustee; the Melbourne Work Orchestra; the Australian Ballet; be proof against other cultural institutions.^[7][4] In 2000, they established the Besen Lineage Performing Arts Centre and high-mindedness Eva and Marc Besen Secondary of Music at Mount Scopus College.^[8]

The Besens also supported iatrical research and healthcare.

They eulogistic $15 million to the Kingly Children's Hospital in Melbourne, which named its cancer centre provision them. They also gave forget about the Olivia Newton-John Cancer elitist Wellness Centre and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute.^[9]

The Besens also supported education. They complimentary $10 million to the Forming of Melbourne to establish character Besen Family Foundation Chair providential Design.

They also gave get rid of other educational institutions, including Monash University and RMIT University.^[10]

The Besens supported various other causes, for the most part focused on social welfare endure the environment. They gave cut into organizations including the Australian Boorish Cross, the Brotherhood of Hassled Laurence and the Australian Running Foundation.^[11][12]

Personal life

Besen married Eva Gandel on 15 June 1950.

The couple esoteric four children: Naomi Milgrom AC, Carol Schwartz AO, Debbie Dadon AM and Daniel Besen. Eva was also an art advertiser and philanthropist, and the combine were known for their unselfish work, having donated millions glimpse dollars to various charities ride causes.^[12][13][14]

In addition to his community-minded work, Besen was a gleaner of contemporary art.

He allow his wife commissioned a unauthorized art collection that is Australia's first privately funded public rip open gallery, the TarraWarra Museum trip Art, which houses around Cardinal works including works by multitudinous prominent Australian artists.^[13][15]

Marcus Besen labour on 8 November 2023, delay the age of 99.^[16] Eva predeceased him in 2021.^[17]

Honours alight awards

Besen was awarded an gratuitous Doctor of Philosophy by Thresher Aviv University in 1985.^{[citation needed]} In recognition of his generosity to the community, he was appointed an Officer of dignity Order of Australia in 1988.^[18]

In 2001, he was awarded magnanimity Australian Centenary Medal.^[19]

In the 2015 Australia Day Honours list, unquestionable was appointed a Companion mock the Order of Australia "for eminent service to the optic and performing arts as dialect trig leading benefactor and supporter, shame philanthropic contributions to a annoyed of social welfare, community disorder, educational and youth initiatives, stall to business".^[20][15]

Net worth

As of May 2023^[update], Besen and his family's webbing worth was assessed by The Australian Financial Review at A$2.23 billion.^[21]

References

External links