Elise Stern Haas
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Elise Stern Haas TBE APPRECIATION OF QUALITY Regional Oral History Office The Bancroft Library SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE October 20, 1990 -,.>-$ -2 Elise Ham - AM Patron, ' A memorial Is scheduled at* Matriarch of S.F. FamQj. :;ggg-ayiaweek for Ruth Helne DM, prd 91-- BY hay Ruth H&uwos bomb chrbl8wrm6rr In 1899. Her father, 6.0.-9 IMne,, established the Helne Piano CO..~ Elk Stern Hoar, a patron of which operated a string of Went! the arts, civic leader and member Corst agencies. of the pioneering San hcluo family that founded aad still She was educated at St. Rase maargea Levi Stram and Co., Academy in $an Francism and died yesterday at Mount Zlon Stanford Unkerslty. She marrled HasplW. She was 86. Thoman Dahl Jr. In 19% For the Mn.Haas. the wldow of Walter next 36 years they reaided In Ha- A. Hary wan the first woman prd- wail. ' ! dent of the San Francisco Museum In lM8 they returned to Sani of Modem Art (formerly the San Francisco. She beeame prerldent Francisco Museum of ArU and of the Helne Piano (3.andopnt( Mount Zloo Hospltal and Medical edtwolocal~LorrrDop- t Center. She wan Plso a founder of A service will be held at the the San Francisco Youth Symphe Gram Cathedra -&at 104 ny Aaaodatlon and chairman of a.m. Tuesday. the Stern Grove Festival Amock- Contrlbutlons may be made to tlon, whlch her parents eatabhh- ELISE STERN HAAS the Llncoln Cudhmr F ed. Grandniece of Levi Strauu Mrs. Haaa wan born In San land. Calif. 94681; Shrlhur B Rancbco Ln 1893, the only child of San Francisco League of Women'r Rosalle Meyer and Slgmund Stera Voters, the Visiting Nune Assoclr- ety. Her father wan president of Levi tlon and Red Cross blood drlvea Strausll and Co. and nephew of the during World War XI. !- I company's founder, Isvi Stmuss. The Hoasea ahmade signlfk the Bavarian immigrant who cant contributions to iaetltutim founded the fIrm la 1850. involved Ln education, health. the Remembered yesterday as an envfronment and mlal services. George A. Scott, a radar and; elegant, clvic-mlnded phUanUm Mrs. Haas and other members Navy communlcatlons ploneer pist. Mrs. Haas wan a devoted pa- of the family received the Alexis who served as a navigator for plbt I tron of the arts and culture of the de Tocqueville Soclety Award George Bush during World War 11. city. She was Involved with the : from the Unlted Way of America dled Sunday at the age of 82. .: Museum of Modern Art from Its in 19135. The citation spkl that the Inception In the 1- She serve& Walter and Elhe Haan Furrd, on Its women's board, the board aL whlcb they lounded In 1052 re trustees. and served an ita chair: flected "the family philamphy man from 1964 to 18BB. Robert Tessier I that wealth is a reaponslblllty and I Under her leadership, the mu- that the sharing of it b a way of Lor Angeles i seum nollduied its flnandrl k# lua" Actor Robert Tessler, whose! and bulk up Ita permanent collec- In 1914, Elise Stern married tion. She was herself a painter and baleful looks helped him portrad Walter A Haas, who wan presldent' tough guys and vlllains In such! sculptor and sald she wan commit' of Levl Straw and Co. from 1928 ted to supporting local artists. movles as "The Deep" and "Thq to 1955. Under their sow Walter Longest Yard." dled October 11 a? "You've heard the expression A Haw Jr. and Peter Haaa, the the age of 56. a grande dame," commented San company han become the world's Rancko attorney Moses Lasky, largest apparel manufacturer. Known for his trademark shad who served with Mrs. Haas on the Walter A Haaa Jr. is also the own- ed head. Mr. Tessier's first prom14 museum board. "Well, that was er of the Oakland Athletia base, nent role came in 1970 with "Cry what she wan. She wan one of those ball team. His son, Walter J. Haaa, Blood, Apache." Other film credits people that make a commudty is president and chief executive include "Hooper" and "~ard proud of itself." offlcer. Times." His last plcture wad "Nlght-Wish." released thie year. Mrs. Haas assumed ladershlp Mrs. Ham lava her sons. : of the museum at a tlme when it daughter Rhoda Goldman. 10 was struggling financially and un- grandchildren and 20 great-grand- sure of Its artlstk and clvic mip children. sion. arta obaervers sald last nlght A memorial service will be held Fred 1. Hartley i "She was a strong person wlth at 11 a.m. Monday at Congregatlon Los Angeles good Ideas and excellent taste." Emanu-El at Lake Street and Ar- sald Mary Keeallng, who also serv- guello Boulevard In San Francieco. Fred L. Hartley, whose push; ed as women's board presldent. The family requests that peo- for Innovation and alternative en4 "I'm so ghd I had the chance to ple wfshhg to make a memortal ergy boosted Unocal Corp. from aj have her in my life." donatlon contribute to the San small oil company to an internu Mrs. Haas wan for many Francisco Museum of Modern Art, tlonal conglomerate, dled yester- associated with Mount Zion Hospi- the Stern Grove Festival Amcia- day after a long, unspecified U- tal, where she served as presldent tlon or Mount Won Hospital in San ness. He was 73. from 1838 to 1940. She headed the Rancisco. All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between the Regents of the hiversity of California and the Trustees of the Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, and Elise Stern Haas, dated 8 December 1978. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manu- script, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California at Berkeley and the Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum. No part of the manuscript may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the Director of The Bancroft Library of the University of California at Berkeley . Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to the Regional Oral Iiistory Office, 486 Library, and should include identification of the specific passages, and identification of the user. The legal agreement with Elise Stern Haas requires that she be notified of the request and allowed thirty days in which to respond. Regional Oral History Office University of California 'The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California California Jewish Community Series Elise Stern Haas THE APPRECIATION OF QUALITY With Introductions by Meyer Friedman, M.D. and Henry T. Hopkins An Interview Conducted by Harriet Nathan in 1972 Sponsored by the Judah L. Magnes Memorial Nuseum Copyright @ 1979 by the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the Judah L. Magnes BfernorLal Museum TABLE OF CONTENTS -- Elise Stem Haas PREFACE A PERSONAL NOTE TO MY CHILDREN by Elise Haas iii INTRODUCTION by .Meyer Friedman, M.D. INTRODUCTION by Henry T. Hopkins vii INTERVIEW HISTORY viii ANCESTORS AND FAMILY HISTORY The Meyer Family Grandfather Eugene Meyer The Newmark Family Grandmother Harriet Newmark Meyer and Her Children Rosalie Meyer Marriage to Sigmund Stem The Stern Family Residence in San Francisco Birth and Mother's Illness Christian Science Mother's Music and Musical Friends Mother's Accomplishments, Activities and a Gift GIRLHOOD RECOLLECTIONS Home at Pacific and Octavia Some Long-Term Friendships School and Classes The Earthquake Memories: San Francisco and Fair Oaks Homes at Fair Oaks MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN Meeting Walter Haas Decision and a Wedding Walter, Jr. The World War I Years Peter Rhoda Galileo, Deerfield, U.S. and Harvard Miss Godchaux - French and Grammar The 1929 Family Trip to Europe The 1939 Trip Wartimeand the Family Peter and Jody Two Generations HOUSEHOLDS AND HOMES The Willis Polk House The Loveliest Lot in Town The Top Apartment Some Eric Mendelsohn Designs CELEBRATIONS, TRAVELS AND INTERESTS Birthdays Sports and the Out-of-Doors "Gloriana" and the Mountbattens Visiting Israel Aspects of Art and Music COMMUNITY GROWS AND SERVICE Yerba Buena Club, Golden Gate International Exposition The Nomura Luncheon Blood Donor Service: World War I1 Mt. Zion Hospital U.C. and the Haas International Award Concerts for Young People Merola and the Singers' Competition Stem Grove and the Concerts Maintaining Stern Grove Proposed Center for the Performing ~rts THE PRACTICE OF ART Lessons in Painting and Drawing Classes in Sculpture Developing an Art Collection THE STEINS Meeting Sarah and Michael Stein The Matisse Portrait of Sarah The Gentlemen from Gump's Sketches from "Joie de Vivre" "Granny Wants to Sell" A Michael and Sarah Stein Memorial Collection Meeting M. Matisse Nate Cummings and the Portrait of Mike The Elmire Incident Janet Flanner Idea for a Show Visit to Alice Toklas Four Americans in Paris TAKING CARE OF PAINTINGS The Kecks and Conservation Hazards of Lending Paintings Sidelights on Coffelt and O'Keeffe Reproduction of "Femme au Chapeau" HENRY MOORE Some Acquisitions Arranging a Visit with Moore Seeing Moore's Studio and Garden Moore in the U.S. ERNEST BLOCH Manuscripts and Lectures at U.C. Letters for the Music Department ALBERT BENDER A Camera for Ansel Adams Tributes Printed by the Grabhorns A Book and Some Clippings The Letters from Mexico DIEGO RIVERA A Fresco for the Country Place The Rivera at Stern Hall MARINO MARINI Some Portraits The Horse Sculpture TRANSITIOlJ.IN ART, AND THE PROMOTION OF ARTISTS ART MLTSEUMS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO MLTSEUM OF ART Role of the Trustee Disposition of "Femme au Chapeau" The Museum's Rental Gallery The children's Choice A.