Max Fisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Max Fisher
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Fisher (center), John Bugas (left), Henry Ford II (right) at Bugas's Wyoming ranch
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Max Martin Fisher
July 15, 1908 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | March 3, 2005 (aged 96) Franklin, Michigan, U.S.
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| Occupation | Businessman |
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| Children | 5, including Mary |
| Relatives | Stephen M. Ross (nephew) |
Max Martin Fisher (July 15, 1908 – March 3, 2005) was an American businessman and philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who donates money to good causes. He was a big supporter of the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University. Max Fisher spent much of his life raising money for charities and political efforts. He also advised U.S. presidents on issues related to the Middle East and Jewish communities. He worked with every president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush.
Contents
Max Fisher's Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Max Fisher was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were immigrants from Russia. He grew up in Salem, Ohio, where his father owned a clothing store.
He went to The Ohio State University on a football scholarship. In 1930, he earned a degree in business. While at OSU, he joined the Phi Beta Delta fraternity.
Starting His Business
In 1930, Fisher started working for his father's oil business in Detroit. He was a salesman earning $15 a week. In 1932, he started his own company called Aurora Gasoline.
He grew Aurora Gasoline into one of the largest gas station chains in the Midwest. In 1959, he sold the business to Marathon Petroleum for $40 million. He had been the company's chairman for 27 years.
After Retirement
After selling Aurora Gasoline, Fisher invested his money in real estate. He retired from business in 1963. He served on the boards of several large companies like Comerica and Sotheby's.
Fisher also supported Jewish and other charitable causes around the world. He was a key figure in many Jewish organizations. He also advised U.S. presidents and Israeli prime ministers. He helped build stronger ties between Washington and Jerusalem. President Jimmy Carter even invited him to watch the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1977.
Fisher was a delegate from Michigan at several Republican National Conventions. These conventions are where political parties choose their presidential candidates.
Max Fisher's Philanthropy
Max Fisher was known for his generous donations and support for many projects.
Supporting Arts and Education
In Detroit, Fisher helped fund the $60 million Max M. Fisher Music Center. This center is home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It also has a public high school for performing arts.
He also gave about $20 million to Ohio State University. This money helped build a new six-building business campus for the Max M. Fisher College of Business. It opened in 1998. In 2005, he pledged another $5 million to the college.
Jewish Community Leadership
Fisher held important leadership roles in many Jewish organizations. He was national chairman of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) from 1965 to 1967. He also served as president of the Council of Jewish Federations. He was the founding chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI).
Max Fisher's Family Life
Max Fisher was married two times.
First Marriage
In 1934, he married Sylvia Krell. She passed away in 1952. They had one child:
- Jane Fisher Sherman, who also became a leader in Jewish organizations.
Second Marriage
In 1953, he married Marjorie Faith Switow. They had two children together:
- Julie Fisher Cummings
- Marjorie Fisher Aronow
Marjorie also had two children from a previous marriage, whom Max Fisher adopted:
- Mary Fisher, who became a well-known AIDS activist.
- Philip William Fisher, who started a charity called Mission Throttle.
Max Fisher had 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
He passed away on March 3, 2005, at his home in Franklin, Michigan. He was 96 years old. He is buried in the Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham, Michigan.
Fisher also helped pay for his nephew Stephen M. Ross's schooling. Stephen Ross later became a very successful businessman.
Max Fisher's Wealth
In 2004, Max Fisher's total wealth was estimated at $775 million. At 96, he was the oldest person on the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans.
Max Fisher's Legacy
Historical Records
Max Fisher's important papers are kept at the Walter P. Reuther Library in Detroit, Michigan. These papers show his life as a successful businessman and investor. They also show his work as a Republican Party fundraiser, a Jewish community leader, and a major philanthropist. The collection includes letters, speeches, interviews, and photos.
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO)
In 2006, a male chapter of BBYO was named Max Fisher AZA in Michigan. BBYO is a youth organization. This chapter has grown a lot and won many awards. Members from this chapter have become leaders at local and international levels.
Max A. Fisher Memorial Highway
On November 30, 2005, President George W. Bush signed a law. This law named a 30-mile stretch of Telegraph Road (U.S. Route 24) in Michigan the "Max A. Fisher Memorial Highway." The highway was officially dedicated in May 2008.
