Page 1 - The Jewish Voice - November '19

VOL. 9 NO. 11 www.seabreezepublications.com NOVEMBER 2019

Renowned Business Leader, Philanthropist, Social

Entrepreneur Morton L. Mandel Passes Away at 98

“I seek now to light
as many more candles as
I can — to help brighten
the prospects of those less
fortunate in this world.”
- Morton L. Mandel

Morton L. Mandel,
renowned business
leader, philanthropist,
and dedicated social
entrepreneur, passed away
at his home in Palm Beach
on Oct. 16. Morton L. Mandel (photo credit
Born in Cleveland and a Nannette Bedway) Morton and Barbara Mandel at Brandeis University
long-time resident of Palm
Beach, he was 98 years old. Morton Mandel in Palm Beach in civic and philanthropic activities in his hometown of
The generosity of Morton, along with his brothers, Jack Cleveland and later, nationally and internationally, devoting
and Joseph, has provided a profound impact on Palm Beach merged with Farnell Electronics, PLC, based in the United about 25 percent of his time to civic and philanthropic efforts.
County, Cleveland, Israel, and around the globe. Through Kingdom, to form Premier Farnell, PLC, in 1996. Mandel served as chief volunteer officer for a large number
their foundation and individually, Mandel has donated In 1998, Mandel and his two brothers founded Parkwood of high-impact community organizations, and founded
more than $30 million to Jewish, educational, and cultural LLC, a Wilmington, Delaware-based private trust company. alone or in partnership with others a dozen 501(c)(3) non-
causes around Palm Beach County, including more than $10 At the same time, Mandel remained heavily committed
million to the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County; $5 to civic and philanthropic activity in the Palm Beaches, Renowned Business Leader on page 2
million to the Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches, which has Cleveland, and Israel through the Mandel Foundation,
community centers in Palm Beach Gardens and Boynton which the brothers established in 1953.

Beach; $5 million to construct the Morton and Barbara chairman, and CEO of Parkwood LLC, a private trust Beth Am Donates
At the time of his death, he served as co-founder,
Mandel Community Center in Palm Beach; and $5 million
to the Mandel Public Library in Downtown West Palm company, and co-founder, chairman, and CEO of the Jack,
“The positive impact Mort made in this world is beyond Food to Jewish
Beach. Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation.
“To say Mort changed countless lives would be an
enormous understatement,” said Michael Hoffman, measure. His values of generosity, respect for others, and
President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach Reinharz, president of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Family Service
his integrity will be his everlasting legacy,” shared Jehuda
County. “He was a passionate advocate for education,
leadership, and building strong Jewish communities, Foundation and former president of Brandeis University.
particularly our community here in the Palm Beaches. His Mandel was born in Cleveland in 1921. After high As is its annual tradition, Temple Beth Am conducted
dedication and influence have helped make this one of the school, he attended Adelbert College (now Case Western a food drive during the High Holy Days to benefit Alpert
most vibrant and thriving Jewish communities anywhere, Reserve University) in Cleveland, on scholarship. After Jewish Family Service. TBA teen volunteers handed out
with his name and legacy — and that of this beloved brothers completing his freshman year at 19 years old, Mandel empty bags at Rosh Hashanah services and collected the
— all around Jewish Palm Beach,” Hoffman continued. dropped out of college and co-founded Premier Automotive filled bags during Yom Kippur service. Special thanks
Congresswoman Lois Frankel said, “I am so sad about the Supply Co. before enlisting in the army. He later returned to TBA Youth Director Elana Beame and to congregant
passing of Mort Mandel. His philanthropy to our community to the family business, and was asked by his brothers in Debby Baker for their coordination efforts. The Alpert
will be long felt by current and future generations. I am 1957 to become CEO of what was to become Premier Jewish Family Service food pantry was nearly empty
especially grateful for his generous support for what is now Industrial Corporation. Over the years, he thought about and TBA helped to replenish it with their donation,
proudly called the Mandel Public Library of West Palm the credit hours required to earn a bachelor degree but his which was even larger than in years past.
Beach, which he helped transform into a vibrant space for focus on Premier Industrial Corporation took precedence.
persons of all ages and backgrounds.” In 2013 — nearly 75 years after starting college — Mandel
In 1940, with his brothers, Jack and Joseph, Mandel co- received his bachelor’s degree with 2,000 other students in
founded Premier Industrial Corporation, when they pooled caps and gowns. “It’s important for me to take this last step.
together $900 to purchase the “remnants” of an auto parts It’s like I stopped on third base and had a chance to score
store from their uncle. Premier went public in 1960 and was by going home,” said the then-91 year old. “It’s completing
listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1964; it later something that was slightly incomplete.”
Asked about his success,
Mandel would say, “We were
a company that believed
in solving our customer’s
problems and not just pushing
product out. This was a key
factor in the growth of our
company.”
Along with his business Gali and Ben Levkovitz and Marcy Isdaner drop off food
success, Mandel became donations at Alpert Jewish Family Service.
involved at an early age