Irving I. Stone

Irving I. Stone (1909 in Cleveland[1] – January 19, 2000) was an American philanthropist, businessman, and founder-chairman of American Greetings.[2]

To be distinguished from Irving Stone the novelist

He was born to Jacob Sapirstein;[1] the stein ending, in Yiddish, when pronounced "SHtine", means "stone".[3]

Career

Stone turned a small family business, Sapirstein Greeting Card Company, into "the world's second-largest maker of greeting cards.".[1]

In the 1930s, rather than merely sell what others had designed, he began what is now the American Greetings Creative Department, which the New York Times described as "one of the biggest art studios in the United States."

He authored the company's "From Someone Who Likes to Remember Someone Too Nice to Forget" card, using skills he developed and improved by taking courses at night.

The company he built has over 20,000 employees, and competes with Hallmark.

Philanthropy

Among the causes supported by Stone were Yeshiva University, Hebrew Academy of Cleveland,[1] and the Chinuch Atzmai Torah schools in Israel.[4] The Stones supported projects under the guidance of Rabbi Nachum Zev Dessler, in Cleveland.[5] Irving I. Stone was also the main benefactor to Camp Stone, a Zionist summer camp in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania.[6] The Stone in Manhattan was named after him, as he was a frequent concert goer.[7]

The Jerusalem suburb of Kiryat Yearim, also known as Telz-Stone, was named in his honor.

Stone Chumash

His name is the source for the Stone Chumash's name.

References
  1. Wolfgang Saxon (January 19, 2000). "Irving Stone, 90, an Innovator In the Greeting Card Industry". The New York Times. Born in Cleveland
  2. Congressional Record: n 109-122 pp 1963-1966 Congress - 2010 "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Irving I. Stone, founder of American Greetings Corporation"
  3. Teresa Norman (2003). A World of Baby Names. p. 184. ISBN 0399528946.
  4. New York Times paid obituary notices January 19, 2000
  5. pdf
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