Joseph Bernard Gildenhorn | |
|---|---|
 Gildenhorn, c. 1989 | |
| United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein | |
| In office August 3, 1989 – March 1, 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Philip D. Winn |
| Succeeded by | M. Larry Lawrence |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Bernard Gildenhorn (1929-09-17)September 17, 1929 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 2023(2023-10-21) (aged 94) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland (BS) Yale University (LLB,JD) |
| Occupation |
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Joseph Bernard Gildenhorn (/ˈɡɪldənˌhɔːrn/; September 17, 1929 – October 21, 2023) was theU.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1989 to 1993 and was a co-founder ofJBG Smith.[1]
Gildenhorn was born September 17, 1929 in Washington, D.C., to Oscar, a retail grocer, and Celia Gildenhorn. Both of his parents were born in theRussian Empire (presentlyPoland) and immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century.
Gildenhorn graduated fromJackson-Reed High School (then called Woodrow Wilson High School). He then received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from theUniversity of Maryland.[2] He graduated fromYale Law School in 1954 where he was a member of the Editorial Board of theYale Law Journal andOrder of the Coif.
After law school, Gildenhorn served in theUnited States Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon returning to Washington, he worked for theU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.[3]
In 1956, Gildenhorn and high school friends Donald Brown and Gerald Miller founded a law firm. In 1962, they became real estate developers in the Washington, D.C. area forming what later becameJBG Smith.[4]
Gildenhorn was a long-time supporter of theRepublican Party andGeorge H. W. Bush.[5] Gildenhorn was theU.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1989 to 1993, appointed byGeorge H. W. Bush.[3]
Gildenhorn served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of theWoodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars from 2002 to 2013, appointed byGeorge W. Bush.[6][3]
Gildenhorn was President of theJewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington. He also served on the board of directors of theJoint Distribution Committee.[3]
Gildenhorn was married to Alma Lee Gross, whom he met while a student at the University of Maryland. They had two children: Carol Winer and Michael Gildenhorn.[3]
Gildenhorn was a financial supporter ofJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts[7] and the Institute for Bone and Joint Health ofSibley Memorial Hospital.[8] He also endowed the University of Maryland’s Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies and the Gildenhorn Recital Hall at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.[3]
Gildenhorn died in Washington D.C. on October 21, 2023, at the age of 94.[9]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Switzerland 1989–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Minister Resident |  | |
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| Chargé d'Affaires | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
