Hyman Kreitman
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{{Infobox person
| name = Hyman Kreitman
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = 3 June 1914
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| death_date = {{death-date and age|8 May 2001|3 June 1914}}
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| education = Cordwainers College
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| occupation = Businessman, philanthropist
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| spouse = Irene Cohen
| children = 2 sons, 1 daughter
| parents =
| relatives = Jack Cohen (father-in-law)
Shirley Porter (sister-in-law)
}}
Hyman Kreitman (3 June 1914 – 8 May 2001) was a British businessman, philanthropist and art collector. He served as the chairman of Tesco from 1970 to 1974. He was a donor to Tate and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Early life
Hyman Kreitman was born on 3 June 1914.{{cite news|last1=Serota|first1=Nicholas|title=Hyman Kreitman|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/may/21/guardianobituaries|accessdate=July 17, 2016|work=The Guardian|date=May 21, 2001}}{{cite web|last1=Baker|first1=Anne Pimlott|title=Kreitman, Hyman (1914–2001)|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/75/101075879/|website=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|accessdate=July 17, 2016|date=January 2005}} He had four older brothers. His father was Abraham Kreitman, who owned A. Kreitman & Sons, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, of 28 Cambridge Road, Mile End, London.{{cite news|title=London Gazette, 4 March 1924|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32915/page/1925/data.pdf|accessdate=17 July 2016|work=London Gazette|date=4 March 1924}} The business was "one of London's largest and most successful shoe manufacturers".
He was educated at Cordwainers College, now part of the London College of Fashion. He served in the Royal Artillery during World War II.
Career
Kreitman became an executive at Tesco, the supermarket chain. He served as its managing director from 1968 to 1970, and as its chairman from 1970 to 1974.
Philanthropy
With his wife, Kreitman endowed the Kreitman Foundation.{{cite news|last1=Reynolds|first1=Nigel|title=Tesco pioneers' art treasures go on sale|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1501339/Tesco-pioneers-art-treasures-go-on-sale.html|accessdate=July 17, 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=October 24, 2005}} They donated to Wigmore Hall and the Royal National Theatre. They also donated GBP£2.2 million to Tate Britain,{{cite news|last1=Oakes|first1=Keily|title=Tate opens £2m research centre|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1946721.stm|accessdate=July 17, 2016|work=BBC News|date=April 23, 2002}} where the Hyman Kreitman Reading Rooms are named in his honour.{{cite web|title=LIBRARY & ARCHIVE READING ROOMS|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain/library-archive-reading-rooms|website=Tate|accessdate=July 17, 2016}} Meanwhile, they supported the establishment of Tate Modern.
Kreitman and his wife were donors to the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, where the Kreitman Plaza is named in their honour, as is the Irene and Hyman Kreitman Annual Memorial Lecture.{{cite web|title=Irene and Hyman Kreitman Annual Memorial Lecture|url=http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/Pages/events/kreitman_2013.aspx|website=Ben-Gurion University of the Negev|accessdate=July 17, 2016|date=May 7, 2013}} Kreitman received an honorary doctorate in philosophy from BGU in 1979.
Art collection
With his wife, Kreitman collected sculptures by Kenneth Armitage, Michael Ayrton, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Elisabeth Frink, Anthony Caro and Lynn Chadwick. They also collected paintings by John Piper and Ben Nicholson.
Personal life and death
Kreitman married Irene Cohen, the daughter of Tesco founder Jack Cohen. They had two sons and one daughter. He died on 8 May 2001 at the age of 86. His widow, Irene, died in 2005.{{cite news|title=Irene Kreitman|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/irene-kreitman-kznn8gnfxks|access-date=July 17, 2016|work=The Times|date=June 24, 2005}} Their art collection was auctioned by Sotheby's in October 2005.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EWqBvHQ_2U Irene and Hyman Kreitman] on YouTube
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Category:Art collectors from London
Category:British Army personnel of World War II
Category:Businesspeople from London
Category:English philanthropists
Category:Ben-Gurion University of the Negev