Abraham Hirschfeld
{{short description|American real estate investor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abraham Hirschfeld
| image =
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| birth_name = Abraham Jacob Hirschfeld
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|12|20}}
| birth_place = Tarnów, Poland
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|8|9|1919|12|20}}
| death_place = The Bronx, New York, U.S.
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| occupation = Real estate investor
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| spouse = Zipora Teicher Hirschfeld
| children = Rachel Hirschfeld
Elie Hirschfeld
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}}
Abraham Jacob Hirschfeld (December 20, 1919 – August 9, 2005) was an American real estate investor, Broadway producer and political candidate from New York City. He was the owner of several buildings in Manhattan. He served as treasurer for the New York State Democratic Committee in the 1960s and as city commissioner of Miami Beach, Florida, in 1989.
Early life
Abraham Jacob Hirschfeld was born on December 20, 1919, in Tarnów, Poland.{{cite news |date=August 10, 2005 |title=Abe Hirschfeld, a Millionaire and an Eccentric, Dies at 85 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/nyregion/abe-hirschfeld-a-millionaire-and-an-eccentric-dies-at-85.html |newspaper= The New York Times |access-date= August 26, 2015 }}{{cite news | first = Adam | last = Bernstein |date=August 10, 2005 |title=Abe Hirschfeld, Eccentric Tycoon Who Craved Publicity, Dies at 85 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/09/AR2005080901483.html |newspaper= The Washington Post |access-date= August 26, 2015 }} He immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine in the early 1930s. He said most of his extended family remained behind and were murdered in the Holocaust. Hirschfeld moved to the United States in 1950. His brother, Menashe Hirschfeld, moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Business career
Hirschfeld made his fortune building semi-enclosed "open-air" parking garages.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Chris |title=Crazy As He Wants To Be | date = August 2, 1999 |url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/681/ |newspaper= The New York Magazine |access-date= August 26, 2015 }}
Hirschfeld became the owner of the Vertical Club, a health club on the Upper East Side. He was a co-owner of the Hotel Pennsylvania. Additionally, he was an investor in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Times Square.
In 1989, he funded the Broadway show Prince of Central Park and the Jackie Mason show, Love Thy Neighbor.
In March 1993, Hirschfeld was the court-appointed manager of New York Post for two weeks after the paper filed for bankruptcy. During that period of time, he dismissed editor Pete Hamill, but later upon court order reinstated him and was shown kissing his face in a famous picture. After his New York Post failure, he founded Open Air PM.
Political career
Throughout his career, Hirschfeld ran for political office several times,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111546077/molly-gordy-many-faces-of-abe/|first=Molly|last=Gordy|title=Many Faces of Abe Hirschfeld|date=February 6, 1992|work=New York Newsday|access-date=October 18, 2022|page=27NY-M|via=Newspapers.com}} including unsuccessful bids as "Honest Abe" for the U.S. Senate in 1974 (defeated in Democratic primary),{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111507707/thomas-poster-clark-gets-dems-nod/|first=Thomas|last=Poster|title=Clark Gets Dems' Nod for Senate|date=September 11, 1974|work=New York Daily News|access-date=October 17, 2022|page=3|via=Newspapers.com}} for New York City Council President in 1977,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111509712/robert-geline-bellamy-has-easy-run-to/|first=Robert|last=Geline|title=Bellamy Has Easy Run to Council Peak|date=November 9, 1977|work=New York Daily News|access-date=October 17, 2022|page=5|via=Newspapers.com}} for Manhattan Borough President in 1997,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111510190/in-manhattan-fields-breezes-ahead-of/|title=In Manhattan, Fields breezes ahead of Abe|date=November 5, 1997|work=New York Daily News|access-date=October 17, 2022|page=10-Wrap|via=Newspapers.com}} for Lieutenant Governor of New York,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111545390/philip-lentz-cuomo-used-hammer-to/|first=Philip|last=Lentz|title=Cuomo used hammer to smash gadfly|date=August 31, 1986|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=October 18, 2022|page=4|via=Newspapers.com}} for New York State Comptroller in 1998,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111511002/election-98-primary-election/|title=Election '98 Primary Election Results|date=September 17, 1998|work=The Journal News (White Plains, New York)|access-date=October 17, 2022|page=3B|via=Newspapers.com}} and for Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111511377/bonnie-weston-gelber-kutun-in-beach/|first=Bonnie|last=Weston|title=Gelber, Kutun in Beach mayor duel|date=November 6, 1991|work=Miami Herald|access-date=October 17, 2022|pages=1B, 2B|via=Newspapers.com}}
Hirschfeld served as treasurer for the New York State Democratic Committee in the 1960s and was elected to the City Commission of Miami Beach in 1989.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111529488/mary-ann-esquivel-gibbs-hirschfeld/|first=Mary Ann|last=Esquivel-Gibbs|title=Hirschfeld wins Miami Beach seat|date=November 9, 1989|work=Miami Herald|access-date=October 18, 2022|page=2B|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1990, the Miami Beach City Commission censured its colleague Hirschfeld for spitting twice on a Miami Herald reporter, and censured him again in 1991 for telling an ethnic joke at a commission meeting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111529592/ap-hirschfeld-censured-for-spitting/|agency=Associated Press|title=Hirschfeld censured for spitting|date=November 9, 1990|work=Tallahassee Democrat|access-date=October 18, 2022|page=3C|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111529767/commission-censures-hirschfeld-again/|title=Commission censures Hirschfeld again|date=January 24, 1991|work=Miami Herald|access-date=October 18, 2022|page=2B|via=Newspapers.com}}
In September 1987, Hirschfeld launched an unsuccessful campaign in Miami Beach to draft New York developer Donald Trump for president.{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-09-17/news/8703140222_1_trump-tower-abe-hirschfeld-persian-gulf-tankers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018204449/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-09-17/news/8703140222_1_trump-tower-abe-hirschfeld-persian-gulf-tankers |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |title=Millionaire Pushing 'Trump For President' |date=September 17, 1987 |author=Nevins, Buddy |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |accessdate=October 16, 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/13/nyregion/abe-hirschfeld-a-winner-in-land-if-not-in-politics.html |title=Abe Hirschfeld: A Winner In Land If Not in Politics |first=Seth |last=Faison |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 13, 1993 |quote=In 1987, Mr. Hirschfeld started a brief campaign to draft Donald Trump for President, saying the entrepreneur was the nation's best hope to solve economic problems. His efforts fizzled quickly. |accessdate=October 16, 2016}}
In 2004, Hirschfeld ran as a third-party candidate for the U.S. Senate from New York against Charles Schumer;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111546604/john-machacek-foes-give-schumer-a/|first=John|last=Marachek|title=Foes give Schumer a spirited challenge|date=October 24, 2004|work=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=October 18, 2022|page=34A|via=Newspapers.com}} Schumer won 71% of the vote, Hirschfeld garnered less than 1%.{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/ussenate04.pdf |title=NYS Board of Elections United States Senator Election Returns Nov. 2, 2004 |publisher=New York State Board of Elections |year=2004 |accessdate=October 16, 2016}}
Lawsuits
In 1998, Hirschfeld offered US$1,000,000 to Paula Jones to drop her sexual harassment lawsuit against former US President Bill Clinton.{{Cite web|url = http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/abe-hirschfeld-swindled-300m-son-daughter-rachel-article-1.1246315|title = Abe Hirschfeld's daughter claims her brother swindled $300 million from the late parking lot baron's estate: court papers|date = 2013-01-24|accessdate = 2014-07-03|website = NY Daily News|publisher = |last = Gregorian|first = Dareh}}
In 1999, Hirschfeld was cleared of charges he owed US$3.3 million in taxes.
In 2000, Hirschfeld was indicted of criminal solicitation for trying to hire a hit man to kill his former business partner Stanley Stahl, with whom he had a "survivor take all" business partnership. Hirschfeld was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he served two. When he got out of prison he ran for the U.S. Senate, calling himself "Honest Abe".{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0702/gallery.rich_eccentrics.fortune/9.html | work=CNN | title=Abe Hirschfeld (1919-2005)}}
Personal life
Hirschfeld married Zipora Teicher Hirschfeld in 1943. They had a son, Elie Hirschfeld, and a daughter, Rachel Hirschfeld.
Death and legacy
Hirschfeld died at age 85 on August 9, 2005, at the St. Barnabas Hospital in The Bronx, of cardiac arrest stemming from complications of a battle with terminal cancer. In 2013, his daughter accused her brother of stealing US$300 million from the estate.{{cite news|last=Gregorian|first=Dareh|title=Abe Hirschfeld's daughter claims her brother swindled $300 million from the late parking lot baron's estate: court papers|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/abe-hirschfeld-swindled-300m-son-daughter-rachel-article-1.1246315|accessdate=21 May 2013|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=23 January 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060504211514/http://www.hirschfeldnyc.com/abraham_hirschfeld.html Official bio]
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Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent
Category:American businesspeople in real estate
Category:Businesspeople from New York City
Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)
Category:Jewish American people in Florida politics
Category:People convicted of soliciting murder
Category:Polish emigrants to the United States
Category:American businesspeople convicted of crimes
Category:Jewish American people in New York (state) politics
Category:20th-century American businesspeople