Mica Ertegun was a Romanian-American interior designer and philanthropist, widely regarded for her influential work in design and significant contributions to the arts and education.
Mica Ertegun | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ioana Maria Banu 1926 Bucharest, Romania |
| Died | (aged 97) Southampton, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Interior designer, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founding MAC II |
| Spouse | Ahmet Ertegun |
Early life
editMica Ertegun, born Ioana Maria Banu on October 21, 1926, in Bucharest, Romania, was the only child of Natalia Gologan and Dr. Gheorghe Banu, a prominent figure in King Carol II’s cabinet and an ally of King Michael I during World War II. Amid Allied air raids, Mica was sent to the family’s country estate. Following the 1948 abdication of King Michael and her father's imprisonment by the Communist regime, Mica and her husband, Stefan Grecianu, a 15-year-older aristocrat, fled Romania, traveling via stateless refugee passports to Zurich. Initially penniless, they were supported by friends, staying at the Dolder Grand hotel and later moving to Paris, where Mica worked as a model. Eventually, they relocated to Canada, where Mica spent eight years working on a farm.[1]
In the late 1950s, Mica traveled to New York City to meet a diplomat in hopes of securing her father's release. Though unsuccessful, she met the recently divorced Ahmet Ertegun, the co-founder of Atlantic Records, at a dinner. The two were married in 1961 after Mica obtained a divorce from Grecianu.[1]
Career
editIn 1967, she co-founded MAC II with decorator and author Chessy Rayner (with the MAC initials representing "Mica And Chessy"), focusing on residential and commercial projects.[1] Ertegun's design projects have been celebrated for their elegance and sophistication, including the iconic 1969 redesign of Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store's fifth floor.[2]
Philanthropy
editErtegun's philanthropic efforts were numerous, with significant donations to the University of Oxford, establishing the Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities.[3][4] Her contributions to cultural heritage include leading donations for the restoration of the Holy Edicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the creation of the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.[5][6]
Awards and honors
editFor her contributions to philanthropy, education, and British-American cultural relations, Ertegun was awarded an honorary CBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017.[7] She was a 1993 inductee in the Interior Design magazine Hall of Fame along with her MAC II founder, Rayner.[8][9] In 2023, she was added to the Architectural Digest AD100 Hall of Fame.[10]
Death
editMica Ertegun died, aged 97, at her home in Southampton, New York on December 2, 2023.[11][1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d McFadden, Robert D. (2023-12-02). "Mica Ertegun, 97, Glamorous Interior Designer and Philanthropist, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ Taylor, Elise (2023-12-06). ""I Hate Clutter": The Chic, Cultivated Interiors of Mica Ertegun, As Seen in Vogue". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Ertegun Scholarships founder Mica Ertegun receives Honorary CBE". University of Oxford. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Ahmet Ertegun's widow donates $41M to Oxford for scholarships". CBC News. February 29, 2012.
- ^ "Oxford mourns the loss of Mrs Mica Ertegun, CBE". University of Oxford. Retrieved 2024-02-06.[dead link]
- ^ "Jazz at Lincoln Center's New Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium | 2015-12-23 | Architectural Record". www.architecturalrecord.com. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Ertegun Scholarships founder Mica Ertegun receives Honorary CBE". Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Mica Ertegun: 1993 Hall of Fame Inductee". Interior Design. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Chessy Rayner: 1993 Hall of Fame Inductee". Interior Design. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ Rubinstein, Dan (2021-11-30). "Mica Ertegun: Meet the AD100 2023 Hall of Fame". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Mica Ertegun, 1926 to 2023". Trinity College Oxford. Retrieved 2024-02-06.[dead link]