Henry Segerstrom
Encyclopedia
Henry Thomas Segerstrom is an American entrepreneur
and philanthropist
. Managing Partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, he was the founding chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center
, now known as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
In March 1967, Henry Segerstrom, along with his cousin Hal T. Segerstrom, Jr., opened a shopping center called South Coast Plaza
in one of the family's lima bean fields in rapidly growing Orange County. Originally anchored by a May Company
that had opened in late 1966 and Sears, the initial phase of the center was designed by Victor Gruen
. It was built the same year as The Irvine Company's neighboring Fashion Island in Newport Beach.
Henry Segerstrom has received an honorary doctorate from Whittier Law School.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. Managing Partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, he was the founding chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center
Orange County Performing Arts Center
The Orange County Performing Arts Center is a performing arts complex located in Costa Mesa, California, United States.The Center offers the world’s leading dance companies, Broadway shows, award-winning classical, jazz and cabaret artists, family entertainment, special events and year-round...
, now known as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Early life
Henry Segerstrom was born into a farming family that specialized in harvesting lima beans. The Segerstrom family was one of the largest producers of lima beans in the US. He attended Stanford University and served in the Army during World War II. He graduated from Stanford Business School in 1948.In March 1967, Henry Segerstrom, along with his cousin Hal T. Segerstrom, Jr., opened a shopping center called South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza is an upscale-luxury shopping center in Costa Mesa, California, USA, in Orange County. The largest mall in California, its sales of over 1.5 billion are highest in the United States...
in one of the family's lima bean fields in rapidly growing Orange County. Originally anchored by a May Company
May Company
May Company may refer to several American businesses:*The May Department Stores Company, a defunct retail company acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2006**May Company California, a defunct California department store that merged with J. W...
that had opened in late 1966 and Sears, the initial phase of the center was designed by Victor Gruen
Victor Gruen
Victor David Gruen, born Viktor David Grünbaum , was an Austrian-born commercial architect best known as a pioneer in the design of shopping malls in the United States.- Biography :...
. It was built the same year as The Irvine Company's neighboring Fashion Island in Newport Beach.
Henry Segerstrom has received an honorary doctorate from Whittier Law School.