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Peter L. Buttenwieser
Born
Peter Lehman Buttenwieser

(1935-12-09)December 9, 1935
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 2018(2018-02-04) (aged 82)
New York City, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materColumbia College (BA)
Harvard University (MA)
Teacher's College, Columbia University (PhD)
Occupationeducator
Known forpolitical fundraising
Spouses
  • Elizabeth Werthan (div.)
  • Terry Ann Marek
ChildrenSarah Buttenwieser
Julie Buttenwieser Suh
Parents
FamilyLehman family

Peter Lehman Buttenwieser[1] (December 9, 1935 – February 4, 2018)[2] was an American educator, philanthropist, and Democratic Party fundraiser. He was a member of the Lehman family.[3]

Biography

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Buttenwieser was born in New York City to investment banker Benjamin Buttenwieser and lawyer Helen Lehman Buttenwieser.[1] His paternal grandfather was real-estate developer Joseph L. Buttenwieser and his mother's family owned Lehman Brothers. His mother was a niece of Herbert H. Lehman, who served as the United States Senator from New York and the 45th Governor of New York. Through his mother, he is a cousin of John Langeloth Loeb Jr., former United States Ambassador to Denmark and grandson of Carl M. Loeb, namesake of the brokerage Loeb, Rhoades & Co.

He attended the Putney School in Vermont and graduated from Columbia College in 1958.[4] He then received his master's degree in history from Harvard University before earning a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University.[5]

Buttenwieser taught at the Dalton School for two years before leaving for Uganda as part of a federal teaching exchange program. During the mid-1960s, he taught in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, headed the Pennsylvania Advancement School, and founded the Durham Child Development Center in 1970.[6]

Later in his life, Buttenwieser became involved in politics and was, as described by Mother Jones magazine in 2004, among the most generous Democratic donors for nearly a decade.[7][8] In 1997, he was the fourth largest "soft money" donor to the Democratic Party, and was the sixth largest donor in 1999.[9] He was also among the largest political contributors in Pennsylvania and supported for the campaigns of prominent politicians such as Ed Rendell, Paul Wellstone,[7] Michelle Nunn,[10] Tammy Baldwin,[11] and Bob Casey Jr.[1][12][13] During the 2000 United States presidential election alone, he donated $1 million to various Democratic Party candidates.[14][15]

Buttenwieser served on the board of EMILY's List to help advance female candidates and of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.[1] He was also an inaugural member of the "Chairman's Circle" of the Democratic National Committee, set up for donors of at least $500,000.[16]

Personal life

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In 1960, Buttenwieser married Radcliffe College graduate Elizabeth Werthan, daughter of Albert Werthan, chairman of Nashville-based Werthan Industries.[5][17] They had two daughters, Sarah Buttenwieser and Julie Suh, before divorcing.[1][18]

His daughter, Julie Buttenwieser, was educated at Germantown Friends School and Barnard College.[19][20] She is married to Gibson Dunn partner and sports litigation lawyer Maurice Suh, who was a former deputy mayor of Los Angeles in charge of public safety under Antonio Villaraigosa.[21] He received his bachelor's degree and law degree from Columbia University and was known for defending Floyd Landis during his doping case.[22][23]

In 1986, Buttenwieser remarried Terry Ann Marek, who had a daughter before the marriage.[1]

Buttenwieser died on February 4, 2018, of acute myeloid leukemia at his home outside Philadelphia.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cook, Bonnie L. (February 5, 2018). "Peter Lehman Buttenwieser, 82, gave to Democratic candidates, progressive causes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "PETER BUTTENWIESER Obituary (2018) New York Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Helen Lehman Buttenwieser". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Columbia College today. Columbia University Libraries. New York, N.Y. : Columbia College, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. 1960–1961.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ a b "Peter Lehman Buttenwieser To Wed Elizabeth Werthan" (PDF). NYS Historical Newspapers. September 8, 1960. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "Peter Buttenweiser". Philadelphia Daily News. December 20, 1976. p. 20. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Jones, Mother. "Profile: Peter L. Buttenwieser (with Terry A. Marek)". Mother Jones. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Kobrak, Peter (2002). Cozy Politics: Political Parties, Campaign Finance, and Compromised Governance. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58826-067-3.
  9. ^ "Washingtonpost.com: Campaign Finance Special Report". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Gold, Matea (April 16, 2014). "EMILY's List powering Democratic women fundraising totals". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Liberal advocacy groups raise record sums for Elizabeth Warren". masslive. May 26, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Casey Statement on the Passing of Peter Buttenwieser | U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania". www.casey.senate.gov. February 5, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  13. ^ Olson, Laura (September 8, 2014). "Pennsylvania donors among those upping contributions after Supreme Court ruling". mcall.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  14. ^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (March 24, 2001). "Big Donors Unfazed by Prospect of Soft Money Limits". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  15. ^ Broder, John M. (December 8, 2000). "CONTESTING THE VOTE: CONTRIBUTIONS; Many Donors To Campaign Are Financing Recount Fight". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "ABCNEWS/NYT: The Giving Mood". ABC News. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Fox, David A. (July 3, 2004). "Albert Werthan, retired business and civic leader, dies at 96". Nashville Post. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "Peter L. Buttenwieser, educator and fundraiser". The Chestnut Hill Local. February 9, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  19. ^ "2014 Barnard Scholarship Celebration Program". Issuu. March 31, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "GFS Bulletin: The Innovation Issue, Vol. II 2016". Issuu. February 28, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Villaraigosa Names Public Safety Deputy". Los Angeles Times. August 2, 2005. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Lehman Family History". John L. Loeb Collection. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "Maurice Suh and Howard Jacobs Are Dope". The Wall Street Journal. August 1, 2007. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
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