Ronald P. Stanton (March 26, 1928 — September 26, 2016) was an American businessman who founded Transammonia Inc (now Trammo, Inc).
Ronald Stanton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Philip Steinberg March 26, 1928 |
| Died | September 26, 2016 (age 88) |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Schloss (divorced) Mei Wu (divorced) |
| Children | with Schloss: --Oliver Stanton with Wu: --Hedi Stanton --Philip Stanton |
Biography
editStanton was born Ronald Philip Steinberg to a Jewish family in Wiesbaden, Germany on March 26, 1928, the son of Hedwig (née Kern) and Eric Steinberg.[1][2] His parents divorced when he was one and he and his mother moved in with her parents.[1] In 1937, he and his mother fled from Nazi Germany to New York City.[1] His paternal grandparents remained in Germany where they committed suicide in order to avoid being taken to the concentration camps.[1]
Stanton attended public schools and changed his surname to "Stanton" after high school.[1] In 1950, he earned a B.A. from the City College of New York and then served in the United States Army.[1] After his service, he went to work for the International Ore and Fertilizer Corporation eventually becoming executive vice president of the fertilizer trading division.[1] In 1965, he left the company and founded his own specialized trading and distribution company then named Transammonia Inc.[1] Trammo grew rapidly marketing, trading, distributing, and transporting ammonia, fertilizers, liquefied petroleum gases, petrochemicals, coal, sulfuric acid, and sulfur.[1] By 2009, it was one of the largest privately owned companies in New York.[1]
Philanthropy
editStanton typically donated anonymously.[1] In 2008, he donated $25 million to Lincoln Center (the plaza at Lincoln Center is named Ronald P. Stanton Way).[1] In 2006, he donated $100 million gift to Yeshiva University.[1] He ultimately gave away $300 million during his life, mostly in New York.[1] Stanton served on the boards of Yeshiva University, Lincoln Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.[1]
Personal life
editStanton was married twice. His first wife was Ruth Schloss; they had one son, Oliver Stanton before divorcing.[1] His second wife was Mei Wu; they had two children: Hedi Stanton and Philip Stanton before divorcing. Stanton was an art collector owning works by Renoir, Matisse, and Picasso.[1]