Evening star., 1941-04-27
August Heckscher, q,
Phi|anthropist, Dies
Al Florida Home
New York CopitoIist Was
Benefuctor of Poor
And UnderpriviIeeed
By the Associated Press.

STduG WIlOoc lillillliB aiAO ACoi CoC1DC
millions were flooded into philan-
thropies for underprivileged children
and destitute old people, died at his
Mountain Lake home here today
active almost to the last OF his 81
years.
The New York capitalist and
philanthropist, who came to this
country when a lad with only $500
strapped about his waist, died of in
firmities of old age after being in a
coma for "a hours.
He had been extremely active,
however, until month ago when he
was confined to his home and only
during the last week did he grow
much weaker.
His physician, DR.. Will Hoyte, said
he died peacefully.
He just dropped off to Sleep" he
said.
Mr.. Heckscher, a resident here for
| 25 years although he spent his sum-
mers in New York, frequently came
into town from his palatial home a
few miles away to chat with friends
on the street, to stroll about with
Mrs. Heckscher, to look over the
| children's playground he had set up
here, and to inspect with keen and
critical eye his orange groves and
visit his real estate offices.
| Mrs. Hecksher at Bedside
At the bedside when he died was
his widow, the former Mrs. Vir-
ginia Hill Curtiss, whom Mr.. Heck
scher married in 1880 after the
| death of his first wife in 1924 Also
surviving is a son. Maurice of New
York, a child by the first marriage.
The second Mrs. Heckscher, who was
associated with Mr.. Heckscher for
Is years in charitable work prior
to their marriage, had been friend
of his first wife
1t was learned that the philan-
thropist's body would be sent to New
York. probably tomorrow, for burial
in Woodland Cemetery, the Bronx.
He had been at his winter residence
since December 20.
| Founder of the Heckscher Foun-
dation for Children, which provided
health and community centerS for
youth, Mr.. Heckscher once pre-
scribed this recipe for longevity:
Get married, eat less and, if you
drink, drink less"
Chances as Great as Ever.
The night before his 88th birth
day, which was celebrated by so of
his best friends, including former
Gov. Alfred E. Smith, Mr.. Heck
scher was recalling his past. Asked
the chances of youth in financially
troubled Nation, he said:
I'VE all say. Those were the good
old days But the depression Is
over-the worst I have ever seem
and youth must take its place in
business again
1T takes more capital to get
started now, for young man, and
you can't borrow SIPS 900 on your
honor as did to continue my coal
mining operations, but the chances
are as great as ever"
OF his philanthropies. he said ::
THE Government is doing it all
now we can't afford to keep up with
them" adding that the foundation
would continue ito fill in little cracks
and crevices that the Government
overlooks."
Set Up With $4,000 900 Fund.
The foundation, established with
fund of S4,000,000 in 1922 was one
Of Mr.. Heckscher's largest contribu-
tions to philanthropy. He also es-
tabiShed summer camps to provide
vacation sites for children and old
people whose homes were tenement
rooms and whose customary vaca-
tion grounds were city streets.
Later years found him waging a
campaign for the eradication of New
York's slums and contributing large
sums to the purchase of public parks
on Long Island. He also carried his
philanthropy outside Americas
boundry lines, contributing widely
to work conducted in Munich, Ger
many for the rehabilitation of the
mental health of shell-shocked
World War veterans and donating
S75, 900 toward the endowment of a
hospital at Munich treating such
patients.
| Was Born in Hamburg.
Mr.. Heckscher, born in Hamburg
on August q, 1848, worked first as
q laborer in the coal mining buSi-
ness of Richard Heckscher, cousin.
Several years later he formed a
partnership with his cousin under
the name Richard Heckscher & Co.,
a firm engaged in coal mining oper-
ations and afterward sold to the
Philadelphia Reading Railroad.
Mr.. Heckscher then turned to
zinc mining and organized the Le-
high Zinc and Iron Co., becoming
vice president and general manager.
With the expansion of the business,
it was consolidated in 1897, together
with other zinc and iron companies
into the New Jersey Zinc Co., Mr..
Heckscher serving as general man.
ager.
In 1904 he resigned this position
and organized the Vermont Copper
Co, of which he was president.
He was also president of the Gen.
tral Iron and Coal Co., Central
Foundry Co. and Sharon Power Co.,
and vice president of the Oil Fields
of Mexico Co. and the Eastern Steel
Co.
Later he stepped from mining into
real estate fields, organized and be-
came president of the Anahama
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