Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley Oral History Center University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Paul A. Bissinger, Jr. Paul A. Bissinger, Jr.: Lifelong San Franciscan and Patron of the Arts Interviews conducted by Shanna Farrell in 2017 Copyright © 2018 by The Regents of the University of California Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley ii Since 1954 the Oral History Center of the Bancroft Library, formerly the Regional Oral History Office, has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through tape-recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The tape recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Paul Bissinger dated June 9, 2017. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Excerpts up to 1000 words from this interview may be quoted for publication without seeking permission as long as the use is non-commercial and properly cited. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://ucblib.link/OHC-rights. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Paul Bissinger, “Paul Bissinger: A Lifelong San Franciscan and Patron of the Arts” conducted by Shanna Farrell in 2017, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2018. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley iii Paul A. Bissinger, Jr. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley iv Paul A. Bissinger, Jr. was born in San Francisco, California in 1934 to Paul Bissinger and Marjorie Pearl Walter-Bissinger. He was raised on Divisidero Street and attended the Town School. He attended high school at the Phillips Exeter Academy, attended college at Stanford University, and earned a graduate degree from the American Institute for Foreign Trade. He served in the Navy in the 1950s, which took him to Japan, Hong Kong, and Manila. He’s been a life-long patron of the arts, which began as a child. In this interview, Bissinger discusses his early life, education, time in the Navy, meeting his wife, Kathy, and starting a family, working for his family business, and commitment to the local arts community. He has served on multiple boards, including for the San Francisco Youth Orchestra and Asian Art Museum. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley v Table of Contents—Paul Bissinger Interview 1: April 24, 2017 Hour 1 1 Birth in San Francisco in 1934 — House at 2500 Divisidero Street, childhood friends, cousins — Memories of mother, Marjorie Pearl Walter-Bissinger — Family life, mother’s second husband Bobby Seller, sister Peggy — Grandmother Florence Walter, book binder — Aunts and mother encouraged in the arts — Elementary school at Town School — Music education: piano, guitar — Father Paul Bissinger, his theater work, the Temple Players — Childhood summers at Rampart on the Truckee River — Summer job as a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service — Summer camps — More on summer activities at Rampart — Swimming at the Concordia Club — Jewish education and guidance from Cantor Ruben Renzor — Phillips Exeter Academy, 1948-1952 — Cross-country train travel Hour 2 12 Social life at Exeter, music: “I was a great joiner. I liked to be part of things.” — Athletics at Exeter: lettering in swimming, football — Education at Exeter, the Harkness system — Cultural climate in New Hampshire compared with California — 60th high school reunion: “We were all so thrilled to see each other.” — Lasting impact of Exeter education — Return to San Francisco in 1952 Interview 2: April 28, 2017 Hour 1 20 Childhood home: “It was a very grand house.” — Special memories of the hand- printing press, stage, ping pong table —Friends, athletics — Studying history at Stanford — Rigorous high school education served Bissinger well at Stanford — Cardinal’s All-School Committee at Stanford — Involvement with the Packard Children’s Hospital — Playing music with The Stardusters — Interest in comparative religion at Stanford — 1955 Navy ROTC midshipman cruise to Havana and Panama — Decision to join Navy ROTC — Stanford graduation in 1958 and Navy commission — Air craft carrier assignment, junior officer of gunnery — Port calls in Japan, Hong Kong, and Manila: “Japan, I just was in love with it.” — Beginning interest in Asian Art Hour 2 34 Meeting and doing business with Japanese artists — Navy discharge and enrollment at the American Institute for Foreign Trade— Travels in Arizona — Meeting future wife Kathy Bell in 1959 — Kathy’s work at the United Nations, life in New York City — Whirlwind engagement — New York wedding and Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley vi Kathy’s move to San Francisco — Caribbean honeymoon — First apartment, early married life — Birth of son Stephen in 1964 — Birth and loss of son David — Birth of son Matthew — Stephen’s schooling, love of music, career in sound engineering, marriage and family — Matthew’s work in non-profit development, later in retail Interview 3: May 12, 2017 Hour 1 45 More on Navy service: a stop at the Shimoda Port — Family business contacts and travel in Japan — Job at investment banking firm J. Barth & Company — Going to work at Bissinger & Company— Details of the hide business — Refrigerated transport and changes to the hide trade in the 1950s and 1960s — Family wool and tallow businesses — More on refrigerated transport — Grandfather’s death in 1964, father becomes company president — Father’s 1969 death in London from a stroke — Becoming president of Bissinger & Company, and mother’s estate executor — Selling off real estate holdings, rebuilding the company’s financial worth — Brief work with Peter Maier — Going solo as a real estate investor — Building a client base, later stock market investment — Yearly newsletter — Cousin Bob Locke — Closing the business Hour 2 58 Presidency of Economic Round Table — Education chairman of San Francisco Performances — Grandfather’s immigration to San Francisco from Germany in 1877 — The importance of having a long-running family business in San Francisco Interview 4: May 26, 2017 Hour 1 61 Developing a love of music as a child, music in the home, parents’ love of music — Playing with The Stardusters at Stanford — Disc jockey at the Phoenix Symphony while at the American Institute for Foreign Trade — Board service in San Francisco’s music scene — 1981 invitation from Agnes Albert, meeting to start a youth orchestra — Success of the youth orchestra, publicity — 1985 plans for an international tour, a gift from Barbara and Barney Osher — Coaching and mentoring for young musicians, famous conductors and performers — 1986 European tour — Concerns about security while traveling abroad — Lessons learned traveling with and supervising groups of teenagers — Visits to Berlin, Vienna, Budapest— Packed houses all over Europe — Visits to Vilnius and Amsterdam — Warm receptions and glowing reviews — Fundraising — Agnes Albert: “She just cared about the music and musicians.” — Music directors Jahja Ling, David Milnes, Leif Bjaland — Alasdair Neale’s 12 year directorship — Directors Edwin Outwater, Bernie Shwartz, and Donato Cabrera — Christian Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley vii Reif — Disastrous orchestra tour to Asia — San Francisco Symphony mentorship of young musicians — Logistical and budgetary challenges — Auditions Hour 2 74 Expressions of gratitude from the orchestra musicians — Son Stephen’s love of guitar and work in sound design — Favorite composers, music venues — Selection to the board of the San Francisco Symphony — Hopes for the future of the youth orchestra: “To broaden the reach of music education to everybody’s benefit.” Interview 5: June 9, 2017 Hour 1 79 Developing an interest in art as a child — Parents’ interest in Asian Art and their travels to Japan — Bissinger’s travels to Japan during Navy service — Collecting Japanese wood blocks starting in 1960 — Travel to Asia with Bissinger & Company — Marjorie Bissinger’s efforts to get Avery Brundage’s collection for San Francisco — Kathy’s work on behalf of the Brundate collection,