Charles Ignaz Petschek

PETSCHEK--Charles I. Survived by Elaine, the love of his life and wife of 64 years, and his adored children: Carol (Martin), Nancy (Stephen), Jill (Joe), and Jay (Marybeth). Devoted grandfather of Chloe, Marissa, Rebecca, Julia, David, Benjamin, Andrew and Laura. Brother of Thea, the late Max (Christine) and the late Thomas (Marie-Luise). Brother-in-law to Beverly (and the late Bertram) and of Mimi (Bill). Devoted son of Czech parents, Charles and Josefa, and nephew of the late uncles William, Frank and Ernst. Philanthropist, music lover, world traveler, he shared to the fullest the lives of his extended family and was a trusted and caring friend to many more. Born in Berlin on April 25, 1922, he attended the College Francais in Berlin and the Rosenberg School in St. Gallen, Switzerland, graduating with an Oxford School Certificate. Next he earned First Class Honors in Economics from Cambridge University during his year there. In 1944 he graduated with Honors from The Stevens Institute of Technology, later receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree from his alma mater. Joining the U.S. Navy during WWII, he taught courses to incoming naval officers. After graduating from the Harvard Business School in 1948, he joined the staff of HBS in the field of finance. Following positions at Shell Oil, Freeport Sulfur, Bear Stearns and Kuhn Loeb, he established his own firm, Charles I. Petschek Investments. He served on the Boards of three clubs: The Harvard Club of New York, Sunningdale Country Club, and the Harmonie Club of New York. He was president of the HBS Club of New York and a board member of The American Jewish Committee, UJA-Federation, The New York Philharmonic, The New York City Opera, The American Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science, The American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, The Foreign Policy Association and The Montefiore Medical Center, and was President of the Scarsdale Heathcote Association and Vice President of Congregation Kol Ami of White Plains, where he was a member for over 57 years. He was also a great friend of the Juilliard School, Caramoor, the Westchester Philharmonic, the Beethoven Society of Bonn, Germany, and the Terezin Memorial Museum, among others. In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate a contribution to your favorite not-for-profit organization. Funeral services will be held at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains on Thursday, January 10, 1pm.

Published in The New York Times on January 10, 2013