Philanthropist and retired industrialist Louis Schweitzer passed away unexpectedly in his sleep while returning home abroad the liner SS France. He was the husband of Lucille Lortel and the founder of the Vera Institute.
Mr. Schweitzer was born in Russia and came to the United States with his family at the age of six. After attending the University of Maine and the University of Grenoble, he and several of his brothers formed the Peter J. Schweitzer company, which produced specialty papers for cigarettes. The brothers sold their interest in the company in 1964 to Kimberly Clark.
One of Mr. Schweitzer's major projects was the founding of the Vera Institute, which focused on reducing the number of poor inmates waiting for trials on Riker's Island. The Institute provided bail funding for inmates who were not financially able raise the amount required.
The Vera Institute was named after his mother.
Mr. Schweitzer was also intensely interested in radio and purchased the New York City Radio Station WBAI in 1957. As the station gained popularity, Mr. Schweitzer decided to donate it as a non-commercial, listener supported station to the Pacifica Foundation.
He also established the Meyer Berger Award for Journalism at the Columbia University School of Journalism in memory of Meyer (Mike) Berger and sponsored a number of James Madison lectures on civil rights for the NYU School of Law. He supported a UN juvenile disarmament resolution which encouraged banning toy guns and water pistols in an effort to support arms control.
Mr. Schweitzer and his wife, Lucille Lortel, were strong supporters of the theater. For one of their anniversaries, Mr. Schweitzer presented his wife with a Greenwich Village theater where avante garde productions were staged. The couple also were the founders of the White Barn Theater on the Westport/Norwalk border.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Schweitzer left behind a brother, Peter J. Schweitzer of New York and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Lefferts of New Haven.
unsourced newspaper clipping.
Mr. Schweitzer was born in Russia and came to the United States with his family at the age of six. After attending the University of Maine and the University of Grenoble, he and several of his brothers formed the Peter J. Schweitzer company, which produced specialty papers for cigarettes. The brothers sold their interest in the company in 1964 to Kimberly Clark.
One of Mr. Schweitzer's major projects was the founding of the Vera Institute, which focused on reducing the number of poor inmates waiting for trials on Riker's Island. The Institute provided bail funding for inmates who were not financially able raise the amount required.
The Vera Institute was named after his mother.
Mr. Schweitzer was also intensely interested in radio and purchased the New York City Radio Station WBAI in 1957. As the station gained popularity, Mr. Schweitzer decided to donate it as a non-commercial, listener supported station to the Pacifica Foundation.
He also established the Meyer Berger Award for Journalism at the Columbia University School of Journalism in memory of Meyer (Mike) Berger and sponsored a number of James Madison lectures on civil rights for the NYU School of Law. He supported a UN juvenile disarmament resolution which encouraged banning toy guns and water pistols in an effort to support arms control.
Mr. Schweitzer and his wife, Lucille Lortel, were strong supporters of the theater. For one of their anniversaries, Mr. Schweitzer presented his wife with a Greenwich Village theater where avante garde productions were staged. The couple also were the founders of the White Barn Theater on the Westport/Norwalk border.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Schweitzer left behind a brother, Peter J. Schweitzer of New York and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Lefferts of New Haven.
unsourced newspaper clipping.
Philanthropist and retired industrialist Louis Schweitzer passed away unexpectedly in his sleep while returning home abroad the liner SS France. He was the husband of Lucille Lortel and the founder of the Vera Institute.
Mr. Schweitzer was born in Russia and came to the United States with his family at the age of six. After attending the University of Maine and the University of Grenoble, he and several of his brothers formed the Peter J. Schweitzer company, which produced specialty papers for cigarettes. The brothers sold their interest in the company in 1964 to Kimberly Clark.
One of Mr. Schweitzer's major projects was the founding of the Vera Institute, which focused on reducing the number of poor inmates waiting for trials on Riker's Island. The Institute provided bail funding for inmates who were not financially able raise the amount required.
The Vera Institute was named after his mother.
Mr. Schweitzer was also intensely interested in radio and purchased the New York City Radio Station WBAI in 1957. As the station gained popularity, Mr. Schweitzer decided to donate it as a non-commercial, listener supported station to the Pacifica Foundation.
He also established the Meyer Berger Award for Journalism at the Columbia University School of Journalism in memory of Meyer (Mike) Berger and sponsored a number of James Madison lectures on civil rights for the NYU School of Law. He supported a UN juvenile disarmament resolution which encouraged banning toy guns and water pistols in an effort to support arms control.
Mr. Schweitzer and his wife, Lucille Lortel, were strong supporters of the theater. For one of their anniversaries, Mr. Schweitzer presented his wife with a Greenwich Village theater where avante garde productions were staged. The couple also were the founders of the White Barn Theater on the Westport/Norwalk border.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Schweitzer left behind a brother, Peter J. Schweitzer of New York and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Lefferts of New Haven.
unsourced newspaper clipping.
Mr. Schweitzer was born in Russia and came to the United States with his family at the age of six. After attending the University of Maine and the University of Grenoble, he and several of his brothers formed the Peter J. Schweitzer company, which produced specialty papers for cigarettes. The brothers sold their interest in the company in 1964 to Kimberly Clark.
One of Mr. Schweitzer's major projects was the founding of the Vera Institute, which focused on reducing the number of poor inmates waiting for trials on Riker's Island. The Institute provided bail funding for inmates who were not financially able raise the amount required.
The Vera Institute was named after his mother.
Mr. Schweitzer was also intensely interested in radio and purchased the New York City Radio Station WBAI in 1957. As the station gained popularity, Mr. Schweitzer decided to donate it as a non-commercial, listener supported station to the Pacifica Foundation.
He also established the Meyer Berger Award for Journalism at the Columbia University School of Journalism in memory of Meyer (Mike) Berger and sponsored a number of James Madison lectures on civil rights for the NYU School of Law. He supported a UN juvenile disarmament resolution which encouraged banning toy guns and water pistols in an effort to support arms control.
Mr. Schweitzer and his wife, Lucille Lortel, were strong supporters of the theater. For one of their anniversaries, Mr. Schweitzer presented his wife with a Greenwich Village theater where avante garde productions were staged. The couple also were the founders of the White Barn Theater on the Westport/Norwalk border.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Schweitzer left behind a brother, Peter J. Schweitzer of New York and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Lefferts of New Haven.
unsourced newspaper clipping.
Gravesite Details
Burial Society: Kehilath Jeshuran
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