Jerome Chazen

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Jerome Chazen
Born(1927-03-21)March 21, 1927
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 6, 2022(2022-02-06) (aged 94)
Upper Nyack, New York, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
Columbia Business School (M.B.A.)
Known forCo-founder of Liz Claiborne
SpouseSimona Chivian

Jerome A. Chazen (March 21, 1927 – February 6, 2022) was an American businessman who was the founder and chairman of Chazen Capital Partners. He was also one of four and last surviving founders of Liz Claiborne.[1]

Early life and career[edit]

Chazen was born to a Jewish family, in New York City, New York where his mother Rose was a seamstress, and his father David worked in commercial heating.[1][2][3] and received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1948 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison[4] where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity and an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1950. He served in the Navy from 1945–46 and it was at UW-Madison where Chazen met his future wife, Simona, and Liz Claiborne co-founder Art Ortenberg.[2][1]

Chazen's first job was as an analyst on Wall Street at Sutro Brothers before he transitioned to a career in fashion beginning with Rhea Midwest, an apparel manufacturer.[1][2] In 1968, Chazen left his job at Winkelman's, where he was hired as a merchandising manager in 1960,[5] for a job in fashion on the east coast.[6]

In 1976, he co founded Liz Claiborne Inc with Liz Claiborne, her husband Art Ortenberg, and Leonard Boxer. Chazen was initially in charge of direct marketing operations.[7] When Liz Claiborne retired from the company in 1989, Chazen was named Chairman of the company and also served as CEO. He was named chair emeritus upon his retirement in 1996.[2][8][9][10][11] Chazen saw the company through a time that significantly changed what women wore to work.[12]

Chazen wrote and published My Life at Liz Claiborne in 2012.[13][14]

Philanthropy[edit]

In 1991, Chazen donated $10 million to found The Chazen Institute of International Business at Columbia Business School and the Chazen Museum, formerly the Elvehjem Museum of Art, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to which he and his wife also made donations of works of art.[15][16][17][18]

Chazen served on the boards of the Newport Jazz and Louis Armstrong House and was chair emeritus at the Museum of Arts and Design.[19]

Personal life and death[edit]

He was married to Simona Chivian whom he met at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[15] They had three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.[1][9][20] He died at his home in Upper Nyack on February 6, 2022, aged 94.[1][21][2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hirsch, Lauren (February 9, 2022). "Jerome Chazen, Original Partner in Liz Claiborne Empire, Dies at 94". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lockwood, Lisa (February 7, 2022). "Jerome Chazen, a Former Chairman and CEO of Liz Claiborne, Dies at 94". WWD. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Taliaferro, Lanning (October 1, 2014). "Rockland Philanthropists Honored at Community Celebration - These are the first-ever Philanthropy Awards from the West Nyack-based Jewish Federation of Rockland County". Nyack Patch.
  4. ^ Tornabene, Juliana. "UW-Madison remembers art advocate, philanthropist Jerome Chazen". Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Winkelman, Stanley J. (2000). A Life in the Balance: The Memoirs of Stanley J. Winkelman. Wayne State University Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-8143-2942-9.
  6. ^ Daily, Investor's Business (January 27, 2012). "A Retail Legend Rebounds From A Career Misstep". Retrieved February 7, 2022. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Hayes, Lisa (2009). "Changing Business Practices in Fashion: Liz Claiborne, an American Innovator: A New Era of American Design" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Designer Liz Claiborne Dead at 78". June 27, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Chazen Capital Partners, Corporate Bios". May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  10. ^ Johnson, Rebecca (December 30, 2007). "Queen of the Separates". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  11. ^ Strom, Stephanie (May 17, 1992). "Fashion Avenue's $100 Million Woman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  12. ^ Fine, Gary Alan; Turner, Patricia A. (May 18, 2004). Whispers on the Color Line: Rumor and Race in America. Univ of California Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-520-22855-9.
  13. ^ Chazen, Jerome A. (January 19, 2012). My Life at Liz Claiborne: How We Broke the Rules and Built the Largest Fashion Company in the World a Business Memoir. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4670-3603-0.
  14. ^ Ukura, Kim. "Chazen shares role he played at fashion giant". The Capital Times. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Jerome Chazen leaves lasting impact on UW–Madison and the arts". February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "$28 million to support art education: Chazens pledge pieces from personal collection". September 25, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  17. ^ "Meet Jerome A. Chazen, The Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business". September 6, 2021. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Feldberg, Meyer (May 5, 2020). No Finish Line: Lessons on Life and Career. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-55179-3.
  19. ^ "Jerome A. Chazen" (PDF). Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "First Annual Philanthropy Award Recipients - Simona and Jerry Chazen". Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "Obituary: Jerome Chazen, Fashion Executive And Philanthropist". Patch. February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
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