Martin Kimmel


Martin S. Kimmel was an American real estate developer and philanthropist who co-founded Kimco Realty Corporation, the largest builder of strip malls in the United States.

Early life and education

Kimmel was born to a Jewish family in the Bronx on April 9, 1916, one of four sons of Henry and Emma Kimmel. His father managed a lighting fixture store. Kimmel attended Syracuse University but left to serve in the Army during World War II in the Pacific theater. Upon returning to the US, he worked with his father at the lighting store where he learned about the homebuilding industry. Based with this knowledge, he started his own company on Long Island which built garden apartments.

Career

Using the profits from his construction business on Long Island, Kimmel and his friend, Milton Cooper, moved to Florida and founded the Kimco Realty Corporation in 1958. Kimco derives its name from the surnames of the two founders. They correctly presaged that Florida was in the midst of transitioning from a vacation destination to a retirement haven. Their first investment was a small strip mall with two stores attached to a Zayre's. Sticking to the same formula - focusing on strip developments in new subdivisions IPO in history.
Kimmel retired in 1991 to focus on philanthropic activities.

Philanthropy

Kimmel has been an important benefactor of New York University donating $10 million in 2005 and $15 million in 2006 to fund the Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, creating a professorship of molecular immunology, and contributing to the construction of the Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for University Life which houses the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Kimmel is also a significant contributor to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel funding the Helen and Martin Kimmel Institute for Magnetic Resonance, the Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design, the Helen and Martin Kimmel Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Healing Center, and the Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science. Kimmel was a long time supporter of the Jewish Museum in New York City.
Kimmel served as a trustee of New York University Langone Medical Center.

Personal life and death

Kimmel was married three times:
In addition, Kimmel has several stepchildren: stepdaughter Betsy Karel of Washington; stepdaughter Abby Leigh of Manhattan; and stepson Alexei Hay of Manhattan. Kimmel was a member of Temple Emanu-El in New York City.
Kimmel died April 15, 2008. In November 2008, his wife Helen donated $150 million toward construction of a new patient pavilion at the NYU Langone Medical Center in honor of her late husband.