Nationality United States Name Samuel LeFrak Spouse(s) Ethel Stone | Religion Judaism Ethnicity Jewish | |
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Born February 12, 1918 Brooklyn, New York Occupation Real estate developer
Record producer Died April 16, 2003, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States Children Richard LeFrak, Francine Lefrak Education University of Maryland, College Park, Erasmus Hall High School Grandchildren JamesTucker LeFrak, Harrison Tucker LeFrak People also search for Richard LeFrak, Francine Lefrak, Ethel LeFrak, Rick Friedberg | ||
2011 ethel and samuel j lefrak school graduation
Samuel J. LeFrak (February 12, 1918 – April 16, 2003) was an American real estate tycoon. He was a noted landlord who chaired a private building firm, the LeFrak Organization. The LeFrak Organization was also ranked 45th on the Forbes list of top 500 private companies. The development firm is best known for major development projects in Battery Park City, LeFrak City in Queens, and Newport, Jersey City. It was founded in 1883 in France, by Samuel J. LeFrak's grandfather, Maurice.
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Biography
LeFrak grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Erasmus Hall High School. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1940, with the University's LeFrak Hall named for him. While at Maryland, he was a brother in the Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity.
He was sued by the federal government in 1973 for housing discrimination and named alongside Donald Trump on the front page of the New York Times on 16 Oct 1973.
In 1975, he co-founded a small recording and publishing company, The Entertainment Company with his then son-in-law Martin Bandier and Charles Koppelman. The company recorded "Groovin'" by the Rascals, "Here You Come Again" by Dolly Parton, "My Heart Belongs to Me" by Barbra Streisand, Streisand and Donna Summer's duet, "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", "By The Time I Get to Phoenix" by Glen Campbell, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by Diana Ross, "Love Will Keep Us Together" by the Captain & Tennille, and the soundtrack album to the television series Fame. In 1984, the relationship was dissolved after Bandier divorced LeFrak's daughter.
In 1988, LeFrak was honored by the United Nations, along with former President Jimmy Carter, for global contributions through Habitat International. After his death, his son, Richard LeFrak, became CEO of the LeFrak Organization.
Personal life
In 1941, LeFrak married Ethel Stone. They had four children:
LeFrak died at the age of 85 on April 16, 2003. Funeral services were held at Congregation Emanu-El in New York City.