Philip and Muriel Berman were American art collectors, philanthropists, and the founders of the Berman Art Museum at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.  Phillip was the chairman of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Muriel was an honorary member of the board. They endowed many Jewish charities including Hadassah as well commissioning and funding the "Philip and Muriel Berman sculpture park" in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where they resided.  Phil made his fortune with a trucking empire and later as the owner of the department store chain Hess's headquartered in Allentown.  Muriel Berman was an optometrist.[1]

Philip

Philip Berman (June 28, 1915 - November 26, 1997)[2] acquired the Hess's department stores in 1968. He graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and later founded the eponymous "Berman Art Museum" there with his wife Muriel with a large gift from their own personal collection.[2] He later became chairman of the board of trustees of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.[3]

Muriel

Muriel Mallin Berman (b. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - d. April 13, 2004) was an optometrist and philanthropist, and the co-founder of the Berman Art Museum at Ursinus College. She studied at the University of Pittsburgh and what is now Carnegie Mellon University, and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

In 1975, she was a delegate to the United Nations International Women's Year Conference held in Mexico City. She kept her optometrist's licence until the 1980s.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Opilo, Emily. "What is the mystery surrounding Philip and Muriel Berman's house along Lehigh Parkway?". mcall.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. 1 2 Mc Dermott & Yellin Outwater, Joe & Myra, The Morning Call News assistant Donna Dimenichi contributed to this. "PHILIP BERMAN, 'RENAISSANCE MAN,' DIES * THE NOTED ART COLLECTOR, BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER HEAD OF HESS'S WAS 82". mcall.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Pace, Eric (1997-12-02). "Philip I. Berman, Art Collector And Museum Benefactor, 82 (Published 1997)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  4. ↑ Saxon, Wolfgang (2004-05-09). "Muriel Mallin Berman, Patron Of Arts and Philanthropist, 89 (Published 2004)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
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