Vera Guerin

Vera Guerin is an American billionaire, philanthropist, and musical theater producer.

Vera Guerin
Born
Vera Shapell

1947 (age 72–73)
NationalityUnited States
Occupationphilanthropist
Net worth US$ 1.3 billion (Nov 2013)
Spouse(s)Paul Guerin
ChildrenLisa Guerin
Dana Guerin
Michael Guerin
Parent(s)Nathan Shapell
Lilly Schreiber

Biography

Guerin was born to a Jewish family, the daughter of Lily (née Schreiber) and Nathan Shapell.[1][2][3][4] Her father was born in Poland. During World War II he was interned at the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps but he managed to escape. Her mother was also an Auschwitz survivor and worked as an interpreter at several of the war crimes trials.[5] Her parents immigrated to California in 1952 when she was five where her father co-founded home builder Shapell Industries with his brother David and brother-in-law Max Webb.[1] Shapell Industries eventually went on to build 65,000 houses in California.[4]

Guerin inherited her father’s 43 percent stake in Shapell Industries upon his death in 2007.[6] In November 2013, Toll Brothers purchased the Shapell Homes housebuilding division of Shapell Industries for $1.6 billion; Shapell's share was $690 million.[7] Shapell still retains a 43 percent interest in the remainder of Shappell industries which includes over 10,000 apartments, five shopping centers, and four office buildings worth an additional $1.7 billion[6] making her share worth $645 million. This sum combined with the amount earned from the Shapell Homes sale gives her an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion.[6]

Guerin is an occasional musical theater producer. She produced a show for the Women’s Guild 50th Anniversary Gala emceed by Billy Crystal.[8] She produced the musical Leap of Faith.[9]

Philanthropy

In 2008, Guerin donated $5 million to support the research arm of the Women's Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[8] In 2013, Guerin donated $10 million to establish the Vera and Paul Guerin Family Congenital Heart Program at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Heart Institute; and $10 million to endow two academic chairs in pulmonary medicine and pediatric neurosurgery and to support Cedars-Sinai’s new outpatient services building.[10][11] Guerin serves as vice chair and chair-elect of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors and is a former president of the Women's Guild Lung Institute.[10] She served as trustee at the Harvard-Westlake School; served on the Stephen S. Wise Temple advisory board; and served on the board of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.[8] Her husband is president and board chairman of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, a support group for Israel’s soldiers.[8]

Personal life

In 1968,[8] Guerin married a gentile, Paul Guerin, over her parent's objections.[6][8] He converted to Judaism.[8] They have three children: Lisa, Dana, and Michael.[8]

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References
  1. Los Angeles Times: "Nathan Shapell, 85; builder who developed Porter Ranch was also noted philanthropist" by Valerie J. Nelson March 13, 2007
  2. Jewish Journal: "Nathan Shapell, real estate developer and philanthropist, 85 March 11, 2007
  3. Builder-Activist Los Angeles Times: "Nathan Shapell Is Driven to Develop Some Big Ideas" by Gabe Fuentes February 12, 1989
  4. San Diego Union-Tribune: "Nathan Shapell; residential developer, pioneer in downtown transformation" by Michael Kinsman] March 25, 2007
  5. Los Angeles Times: "Lilly Shapell; Holocaust Survivor, Author" October 22, 1994
  6. Bloomberg: "Auschwitz Survivor’s Daughter Becomes Billionaire" By Seth Lubove & John Gittelsohn November 14, 2013
  7. Fox Business: "Toll Brothers to Buy Shapell Homes for $1.6B, 4Q Revenue Soars" By Matthew Rocco November 07, 2013
  8. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: "The Major Catalyst - Vera and Paul Guerin" Summer 2008
  9. PlayBill Vault: "Leap of Faith" Archived June 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine retrieved November 16, 2013
  10. Cedars-Sinai Hospital: "Groundbreaking Congenital Heart Disease Program to be Named for Longtime Cedars-Sinai Benefactors Vera and Paul Guerin" September 19, 2013
  11. Medical News Net: "Vera and Paul Guerin Family Congenital Heart Program to be established in Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute" September 20, 2013
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