Judith Bruce and Beth Rudin de Woody | Laurie Tisch | Lewis Cullman | Lawrence Benenson with Sen. Charles Schumer | Patricia Kennedy with Caroline Lieberman | BENENSON CAPITAL PARTNERS BENENSON CAPITAL PARTNERS New York Real Estate Family Begins Second Century Story by Edward T. Callaghan Photos by Rob Rich O mark 100th anniversary, Benenson Capital Partners LLC hosted a three-day celebration at the landmark Fletcher Sinclair mansion, home to the Ukrainian Institute. A highlight of the event was the exhibition of priceless masterpieces from the renowned collection of the late Charles B. Benenson, many of which had not been seen in public for almost four decades. Bill Benenson, Frederick Benenson and Lawrence B. Benenson, sons of Charles, and partners in the family held business along with key executives COO Richard Kessler, CIO James Stifel, and CFO Lloyd Stabiner were on hand each night to welcome hundreds of political, civic, religious and cultural leaders in paying tribute to the much loved Charlie Benenson. Lawrence B. Benenson, sporting a wildly patterned tie, a trademark of his father’s, introduced longtime family friend Sen.Charles Schumer who noted that "the Benenson Family has been an integral part of new York for a century." Schumer added, "When New York City was ailing and the Association for a Better New York was founded, Charlie was there behind the scenes." Lincoln Center president Reynold Levy pointed to the Lincoln Center Real Estate Council, co-founded by Charles Benenson, as pivotal in the development and now renovation of the arts center. Proclaiming October 24, 2006, as "Charles B. Benenson Day," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "Charles was a man of impeccable taste who led one of the city’s most storied and successful real estate companies to great heights." Bloomberg added, "While Mr. Benenson’s achievements in real estate are impressive, it is his art collection and philanthropy that set him apart." Richard Levin, president of Yale University, Charlie’s alma mater and grateful recipient of the Benenson art collection which will go on display at Yale in December, told how Charlie Benenson, a sharing man, "constantly invited students and faculty to his Greenwich estate to view his collection." Tributes by friends continued throughout the evenings with former Mayor David Dinkins citing the family’s long time commitment to the New York Junior Tennis League and the Sports & Arts in Education Programs. His Excellency Bishop Walsh spoke proudly of the Benenson family’s support of the Inner City Scholarship Fund. He had a special message to the family: "You have graced this city with your work in real estate and you have graced the city’s children." Among the hundreds of guests each night were Beth Rudin DeWoody, Laurie Tisch, Billie Tisch, Jonathan Tisch, Faith Hope Consolo, Jeffrey Gural, Charles Millard, Mr. And Mrs. Daniel Rose, Robert Arnow, Adam Rose, Peter Malkin, Tony Malkin, Mary Ann Tighe, Thomas Tisch, Lynn and Sy Syms, Bill Rudin, Constance and Hank Schwartz, Stuart and Vicki Match Suna, Alan Suna, Nicole Brewer, Michael Stoler, Andrea Siben, Patricia Kennedy, Dorothy and Lewis Cullman and Angela LaGreca. |