May 30, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
Age at death: 99
Main beneficiaries: Together with his two brothers, Joseph and Morton, who survive him, Mr. Mandel contributed to his family’s $22.5-million gift to Brandeis University to establish a humanities center in 2007. In 2009 the trio gave $16-million to the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and $12-million to the Israel Museum, in Jerusalem. They also made big gifts to Case Western Reserve University, where the family’s gifts helped establish a center for nonprofits.
How he gave: Jack Mandel and his brothers made their giving decisions in consultation with each other, said Stephen H. Hoffman, president of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland. The Jack N. and Lilyan Mandel Foundation was established by Mr. Mandel and his wife in 1965.and held $230.9-million in assets in 2009. A fund Mr. Mandel created at the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland had $420.4-million in assets as of 2009. (More recent information is not available.)
How he made his fortune: Mr. Mandel and his brothers founded Premier Industrial Corporation, an electronics equipment and industrial products distributor. They sold the company for $2.8-billion in 1996.
How he will be remembered: “Jack’s definition of a rich man was a guy who had a dollar more than he needed at the end of the week,” said Mr. Hoffman, who calls the philanthropist one of the most optimistic people he ever met. Mr. Mandel also gave quietly to help friends facing financial and other difficulties. Aside from those who were discreetly helped by Mr. Mandel, said Mr. Hoffman, “There are just a lot of gifts no one will ever know about.”
