Henry Segerstrom

Henry Thomas Segerstrom (April 5, 1923 – February 20, 2015) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. Managing Partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, he was the founding chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, now known as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.[1] [2][3][4]

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Night.
The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Life

Segerstrom was born into a farming family that specialized in harvesting lima beans. The Segerstrom family was one of the largest producers of lima beans in the United States. He attended Stanford University and served in the Army during World War II. He graduated from Stanford Business School in 1948. [5]

In March 1967, Segerstrom, along with his cousin Hal T. Segerstrom, Jr., opened a shopping center called South Coast Plaza in one of the family's lima bean fields in rapidly growing Orange County. Originally anchored by a May Company that had opened in late 1966 and Sears, the initial phase of the center was designed by Victor Gruen. It was built the same year as The Irvine Company's Fashion Island in neighboring Newport Beach.

He received an honorary doctorate from Whittier Law School, which is located near South Coast Plaza. [6] Segerstrom's family is also the namesake of Segerstrom Avenue in Santa Ana.

Segerstrom died on February 20, 2015 at the age of 91.[7]

References

  1. ↑ O.C. Performing Arts Center changes its name | center, segerstrom, arts - Entertainment - Things to do in OC - Orange County Events
  2. ↑ Board of Directors
  3. ↑ The Orange County Performing Arts Center is changing names - Los Angeles Times
  4. ↑ Segerstrom Center for the Arts
  5. ↑ Henry Segerstrom Honored with 2008 Arbuckle Award From Stanford Graduate School of Business | Business Wire
  6. ↑ Law School Honors Donor Segerstrom - Los Angeles Times
  7. ↑ "Developer and philanthropist Henry T. Segerstrom dies at 91". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 20 February 2015.