He was 86. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Send flowers. I am going to miss him terribly.. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File). He was the son of Louise (Hirsch) and Herbert Blum, who sold robes and raincoats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said she and her husband, Paul, were heartbroken., A lifelong San Franciscan, Richard was a powerful force for good in our city, Pelosi said in a statement. By Brent Lang. He was born on September 20, 1936, a son of the late Herman A. and Catherine (Gibson) Blum. "My heart is broken today. He was 86 years old. Vice President Kamala Harris said the philanthropist believed we could build a world that respected the rights and essential dignity of all people, and dedicated his life to that aim. He was born on September 20, 1936, a son of the late Herman A. and Catherine (Gibson) Blum. He and Feinstein have similarly waved away concerns about their complicated finances. San Francisco financier Richard Charles Blum, whose extraordinary life took him from the halls of power in Washington as the husband of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein to the mountains of Nepal and Tibet as a philanthropist, died Sunday night at his home. University of California Regent Richard Blum, a wealthy donor to UC Berkeley, wrote an inappropriate letter of support to help a student get into the university, according to the California State Auditors office. He was 86 years old. In 2020, Blum was revealed to have written to the universitys chancellor to push for the admission of an applicant who had been waitlisted and had an approximately 1 in 4 chance of getting in. Richard Blum, the longtime husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, died Sunday evening following a battle with cancer, the senator announced Monday. ", "Davis names investor Blum to UC Board of Regents / Husband of Sen. Feinstein is a Berkeley grad", "Richard Blum Joins SF Fed Econ Advisory Council", "Feinstein, Husband Hold Strong China Connections", "Critics Question Impartiality of SFO Runway Study / Feinstein's husband part-owner of firm conducting report and has 6% stake in Northwest Airlines", "PROFILE / Richard Blum / The man behind URS, next to Sen. Feinstein", "CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS: GOVERNOR: Feinstein Defends Husband's Role in Selloff of Stock", "The Man Behind the Woman Who Would Be Governor: Politics: Dianne Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum, is a shrewd businessman, a friend of the famous, with a 'Lt. Write your message of sympathy today. In the middle of it all she met Blum, chairman of the mayors Fiscal Advisory Committee, which the investment banker had created. Nevertheless, he and Feinstein acted as intermediaries through the years between the Chinese leadership and the Dalai Lama. Blum battled cancer and died on February 27, 2022, as Mercury News reported . Blum entered UC Berkeley in 1953, spent a year studying in Vienna, and completed his MBA at Berkeleys Haas School of Business. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the family fled to the heartland of Austria (Vienna and Bohemia) without the father, who served at the front. He was 86. In addition to Ms. Feinstein, Mr. Blum is survived by a brother, Robert; his daughters, Annette, Heidi and Eileen; his stepdaughter, Katherine; and seven grandchildren. Mr. Blum ran his own investment firm, Blum Capital Partners, and during his career as an investment banker and financial manager his clients included large institutions like Bank of America. When you carry a deep passion, what might seem like magical thinking can lead to something very real, he wrote, noting that, inspired by the Everest triumph, his passion evolved into finding ways to help the people of Nepal, Tibet and elsewhere in those mountain ranges improve their lives.. Pillsbury acquired the Burger King business in 1967, and a year later, BBDO was signed on as the company's advertising agency. Richard will be remembered for his patriotism. But privileged to have known Blos and the joy of playing with him outdoors. Today, the center offers a popular minor on campus, Global Poverty & Practice, and serves as an incubator of ideas for social change. Richard Dale Blum was born on December 12, 1927 in Terril, Iowa and passed away on February 6, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. He chatted at Everest base camp with his friend Sir Edmund Hillary before attempting a mountain route not even the Everest pioneer had tried. Admin. He and Harriet were a wonder loving couple and complimented each other perfectly. After the circus deal which he signed, somewhat theatrically, at the Colosseum in Rome he founded what would later be known as Blum Capital Partners in 1975 and also kept his hand in politics as chair of then-San Francisco Mayor George Moscones Fiscal Advisory Committee. Dianne Feinstein's husband Richard Blum dies after long battle with cancer The attraction was instant and mutual, Feinstein wrote. To say that Blum was imaginative in his attempts to avoid boredom would be an understatement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. On Monday, condolences poured in from both the states and nations capitals and beyond. Columbo style' and a passion for distance running and Tibetan treks", "Feinstein's Husband Named to Honorary Post", "Costs go up and up for BART's escalators", "At U. of California, a Systemic Governance Crisis", "Is UC regent's vision for higher education clouded by his investments? A private interment will follow. He was by my side for the good times and for the challenges. Photo by Mark Costantini / San Francisco Chronicle. Former President Donald Trump is congratulating his former adviser Kellyanne Conway after reports that she and her husba. San Francisco financier Richard Charles Blum, whose extraordinary life took him from the halls of power in Washington as the husband of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein to the mountains of Nepal and. Building a successful career in business, he constantly gave back to our city: whether as a patron of our arts, a donor to our food banks or a benefactor to our efforts to end homelessness., Sen. Alex Padilla said that Blum was a compassionate humanitarian who dedicated his life to improving the world for others., Above all, Dick was devoted to his family, Padilla continued. [33] He died from cancer at his home in San Francisco on February 27, 2022, at the age of 86.[3][34]. Our dearest great grandpa, bother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle and friend to many. Richard H. "Sonny" Blum Obituary - Times Telegram He was raised and educated in Herkimer and enlisted in the US Air Force. Blum was born in San Francisco and received a bachelors degree in business administration and a master of business administration from UC Berkeley. Originally from Miami, she holds a masters degree in journalism from USC. During Ms. Feinsteins 1990 race to be Californias governor, Mr. Blum described to The New York Times what he called the triathlon of politics., No. For nearly two decades, Blum served as a member of the University of California Board of Regents and was chairman emeritus of the board, and he founded the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Berkeley, which is focused on addressing global poverty. Feinstein has represented California in the Senate since 1992. My husband was my partner and. He was 86 years old. As a young partner at the San Francisco brokerage Sutro & Co., Blum in 1968 spearheaded the companys $8-million purchase of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Obituary Richard "Dick" A. Blum, 75 of Huntley, died peacefully July 20, 2020. They married in 1980. Richard J. Funeral arrangement under the care ofFenner Funeral Home Inc. A dear heart all aroaund. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke about Blums contributions to San Francisco, the city the Democrat represents. [3] He attended San Francisco public schools. Richard Blum, husband of California Sen. Feinstein, dies He had great interest in Tibet, founding the American Himalayan Foundation, a San Francisco-based non-profit to help Nepalis, Tibetans and Sherpas in the area by funding hospitals, building schools and taking care of the elderly and children. The loss of loved ones can be felt by everyone who knew her and was fortunate enough to be acquaintances with her. In 2020, a state audit found that dozens of students were admitted to selective UC campuses over more qualified applicants because of exaggerated athletic abilities, wealth and connections. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Richard H. Blum of East Herkimer, New York, who passed away at the age of 86, on January 13, 2023. Richard H. Blum Obituary It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Richard Blum, Investor and Husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Dies at 86. Mayor Dianne Feinstein and husband Richard Blum cut the cake after they are married at City Hall, January 20, 1980 Photo ran 01/21/1980, P. 2. Richard Blum, Political Donor and Husband of Senator Feinstein, Dies at Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Published by New York Times on Jan. 30, 2022. All rights reserved. Mr. Blum became Ms. Feinsteins companion between the death of her second husband, Bertram Feinstein, in 1978, and her victory in a race for mayor of San Francisco in 1979 after two unsuccessful attempts. Blum was first appointed to the UC Board of Regents by former California. Columbo style and a passion for distance running and Tibetan treks. I am going to miss him terribly., Blums storied career took many forms. Richard C. Blum is Dead, but Not (yet) Forgotten He was 86. Sign the Guest Book. Blum, the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has died after a long battle with cancer. A longtime friend of the Dalai Lama, Blum was an honorary consul of Nepal. He was a regent of the University of California from 2002 until his death. His mother, Louise Hirsch, was born in El Paso, Texas and grew up in San Francisco. Richard L. Blum Jr., the retired chairman of Julius Wile Sons & Company, national importers of wines and spirits, died on Saturday at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, right, smiles next to husband Richard Blum at an election night event in San Francisco in 2018. He was a force of nature., Cecilia Estolano, the regents current chairperson, called Blum a deeply generous man who long served on the Board of Regents with distinction and profound impact.. Richard Blum, Husband of Dianne Feinstein, Dies at Age 86 He proposed attempting Everests summit in 1983, but Blums new wife said: You are not going. And he didnt, as the prospect of losing Blum down a frozen crevasse might have broken Feinstein at that time. Blos you will be missed. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Our Staff | Richard Blum Jr., 74; Headed Wine Importer - New York Times There are no events at this time. Richard Blum Funeral, Obituary, Burial, Memorial Service. "Dick" Blum of LaGrange, age 74, passed away at home on February 16, 2012. In this life, he said, all Im trying to do is return to my pasture.. Richard Blum, center, joined his wife, Senator Dianne Feinstein, as she was sworn in to another term in the Senate by Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 3, 2019. the establishment of the American Himalayan Foundation. My husband was my partner and best friend for more than 40 years. Summer Lin covers breaking news and general assignment for The Mercury News. I hope the service on Friday, and the love from family and friends who attended brought you comfort at this time of grief. Times staff writers Jennifer Haberkorn and Nolan McCaskill contributed to this report. The only problem was his enthusiasm was so intense it was sometimes hard to get him off the phone. [19], Blum was also the primary owner of Career Education Corporation until 2015[20][21] and served on the boards of the CB Richard Ellis (chairman), Newbridge Capital (co-chairman), and Blum Capital. In her statement upon his passing, Feinstein in particular noted the foundation as one of her husbands most significant accomplishments. He subsequently became a consultant in the same industry and oversaw several large projects in the United States and United Kingdom before retiring a second time at the age of 87. I think its a bunch of nonsense.. Richard C. Blum is Dead, but Not (yet) Forgotten. Richard C. Blum was an undergraduate at UC Berkeley in the 1950s when he decided to hitchhike through Europe and Northern Africa as an exchange student the summer before his senior year. "My heart is broken today," Feinstein said in a. Hes great.. The last time Ed Hillary was on Everest was with the expedition I led in 1981 through Tibet, said Blum, who befriended not only Hillary, but also the sons of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa mountaineer who, with Hillary, was the first to summit Mount Everest in 1953. Devoted grandfather of 13 and brother of John (Kathy) Blum. Blum helped acquire Barnum and Bailey Circus and Ringling Bros. for $8 million before selling the circus to Mattel for $40 million. University of California leaders on Monday (Feb. 28) mourned the loss of Richard Blum, a UC alum, benefactor and longtime member of the Board of Regents. Christian Thielemann leads Vienna Philharmonic US tour Send Flowers. A friend of the Dalai Lama, Blum wrangled with Chinese leaders over their human-rights abuses in Tibet. This is an obituary written for Richard Blum. WASHINGTON (AP) Richard Blum, husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. His dealings in San Francisco and overseas proved nettlesome during her unsuccessful 1990 run for governor and her 2000 senate reelection campaign. He was predeceased by his loving parents, Stuart and Ruth Blum, and his sister, Cindy Kohler. Blum married Feinstein in 1980, when she was mayor of San Francisco. Dianne Feinstein's billionaire husband and his love affair with Israel The marriage was the third for Feinstein and the second for Blum, who had three daughters with his first wife. Gavin Newsom praised Blum as a model Californian. AT&T DirecTV Censorship of Newsmax Continues, See More Here, Rep. Van Drew to Newsmax: AG Garland a 'Failure'. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Blum served as a UC regent for nearly two decades and was chairman emeritus of the board. Edit Search New Search. How close we are to bringing lights back. Would you like to offer Richard H. Blums loved ones a condolence message? Yet tributes to Blum on Monday crossed party lines. MARY CLARE JALONICK
My wife was not particularly pleased, to put it mildly, Blum said. Richard Blum dies at 90 | Baking Business My husband was my partner and best friend for more than 40 years, Ms. Feinstein said Monday. He was 86. Regents Chairman Richard Blum speaks at a University of California Board of Regents special meeting in San Francisco, Calif. on March 27, 2008. Richard Blum Obituary (1936 - 2023) - Legacy Remembers It was that position that would lead him to Feinstein. Richard Dale Blum Obituary - Gainesville Sun Richard Blum, husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. EAST HERKIMER Richard H. Blum Sonny age 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 13, 2023, at his home. She would be 91 on Election Day. Blum died Sunday. (86 years old). Burger King advertising - Wikipedia Four years later, Blum and his partners sold the circus to Mattel Inc. for $40 million. . The lifelong San . In 2020, he contributed $1 million to Unite the Country, a super PAC backing Bidens presidential bid. Blum, a graduate of Cal-Berkeley, founded private equity firm Blum Capital in 1975 and married then-San Francisco Mayor Feinstein five years later. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Richard H. Blum, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) appears with husband Richard Blum at an election event in San Francisco in November 2018. Emily DeRuy is the Bay Area News Group's housing and economy editor overseeing coverage for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. He always gave Dianne good counsel.. [30] He served on many other boards, including the Seva Foundation and as chairman of the Himalayan Foundation. Friends and associates at the time described him as an aggressive straight shooter with boundless drive and a disarming Lt. Blums revelation triggered a UC investigation in Sept. 2020 aimed at determining whether he had violated a long-standing regents policy prohibiting such influence and, if so, what to do about it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, said Blum was a dear friend, a devoted philanthropist and a proud San Franciscan" who was a donor to arts and anti-hunger programs in the city. Hear your loved one's obituary. Shawn Hubler contributed reporting, and Kitty Bennett contributed research. The senator issued a . EAST HERKIMER - Richard H. Blum "Sonny" age 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 13, 2023, at his home. Longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum, died Sunday evening following "a long battle with cancer," according to an announcement from Feinstein's office . Dick was born in Elizabeth, NJ on June 22, 1939 to the late Walter and Phyllis (Blum . A lifelong San Franciscan, Richard was a powerful force for good in our city, Pelosi said in a statement. She said her husband, a wealthy San Francisco investor, left things better than he found them and was devoted to his family. 2, we get to share 17 years of our tax returns on an intimate basis with 30 million people. Feinsteins statement lauded her late husbands charitable work for the people of the Himalayan region of Asia, citing the creation of the nonprofit American Himalayan Foundation as one of his proudest achievements., We have a hole in our hearts that will never be filled, Feinstein concluded. Richard Blum, 1935-2022 | Washington Examiner There he earned a reputation as a no-nonsense chairperson of the board for nearly three years and got things done: reining in UCs high-spending Office of the President in the mid-2000s, easing out that eras ineffective president and, in 2008, tapping a new president, Mark Yudof, whose five-year tenure was seen by many as beneficial for the university system. [10] Blum co-founded Newbridge Capital in 1994. Before Doug Emhoff [Harris husband and the nations first gentleman], Dick was sort of the model of the consort, and I think he did a good job. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. My husband was my partner and best friend for more than 40 years," Feinstein said in the statement. Richard Blum lived an extraordinary life, and he left this world better than he found it lifting up our communities and helping connect people from across the globe, Newsom said. Thanks for contacting us. Richard Blum Obituary - Columbia, MD - dignitymemorial.com This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Just five years had passed since the period Feinstein had called the most traumatic of my life. She was president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 when she lost her husband of 16 years, neurosurgeon Bertram Feinstein, to cancer. He also befriended Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first climbers to have reached Mount Everest, and attempted his own trek in 1981. . Others have sent their tributes on social media to express how they feel about his death. [18], On April 25, 2009, at talk featuring the 14th Dalai Lama, Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgenau presented Blum with the Berkeley Medal, the university's top honor. She started at the Los Angeles Times in 1998, previously covered multiple presidential, state and local races, and completed a Knight-Wallace fellowship at the University of Michigan in 2019. My heart is broken today, Feinstein said. Richard Blum, the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), died on Sunday at age 86 after living with cancer for years. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Richard C. Blum - Wikipedia Blum was 23 and fresh out of UC Berkeley with two business degrees in 1959 when he joined Sutro & Co., an investment brokerage firm that would make him a partner before he turned 30. For 30 years, Elaine and I have been privileged to cross paths with Dianne and Dick in a number of ways, both professional and personal. He described Blum as a schmoozer who was also eager to give to the right causes. When he and the group touched its slopes, he said, We were all in tears because, as far as we know, no human being had ever done that before.. The Blum boys were sent for two years to a military academy in San Rafael where they met another future financier, Warren Hellman. He was the type of man who really replaced his divot in life, who left things better than he found them.. But, again with Mr. Blums financial help, she won election to the Senate in 1992. Blum was chairman and president of Blum Capital Partners in San Francisco, an investment company he founded in 1975. [11], Blum served on the boards of multiple companies, including Northwest Airlines Corporation,[12] Glenborough Realty Trust, Inc., Korea First Bank,[9] URS Corporation,[13] and National Education Corporation. About 2 in the afternoon, Id doze off for a while, Blum recalled. In recent months, Feinstein spent considerable time away from her Senate schedule in Washington to be with him. In a statement of condolence, Mr. Biden called Mr. Blum a successful businessman and proud son of California who dedicated much of his public life to fighting poverty around the globe through the establishment of the American Himalayan Foundation, a nonprofit group that builds schools and hospitals in Tibet, and the Blum Center for Developing Economies at the University of California, Berkeley, which focuses on innovative solutions to global poverty. Richard Blum with the Himalaya Foundation in an undated photo. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may contribute to MoCa Cleveland (mocacleveland.org) or the charity of their choice. He was by my side for the good times and for the challenges. California weighs $360,000 per person in reparations to eligible Black residents. Send Flowers | You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. 7, 2006. He was a member of the Vietnam Veteran of America, Chapter 827 Herkimer County, North East Vietnam Veterans of Freehold. Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. Los Angeles, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. He was 20 years older than George but stronger than George when they climbed the Himalayas. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Boredom has never worked for me, Blum told an interviewer for the oral history, explaining why he chose investments over the shirt trade or fruit-packing, both early options.