Sir Michael Aron Heller (15 July 1936 – 30 January 2023) was a British business executive and philanthropist.
Michael Heller | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Aron Heller 15 July 1936 London, England |
| Died | 30 January 2023 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | British citizenship |
| Education | Harrogate Grammar School |
| Alma mater | St Catharine's College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Businessman, philanthropist |
| Spouse | Morven Heller |
Early life edit
Michael Aron Heller was born in London on 15 July 1936,[1][2] and educated at the Harrogate Grammar School in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.[3] He graduated from St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he received a Master of Arts degree in 1955.[3][4]
Business career edit
Heller served as the Chairman of Bisichi Mining.[3] He also served as the Chairman of London & Associated Properties.[3][5] Additionally, he served as the Chairman of Electronic Data Processing.[3]
Philanthropy edit
Heller co-founded the Michael & Morven Heller Charitable Foundation in 1988.[6] Thanks to a charitable gift they made to the Magen David Adom UK Friend Society in 2006, a Mobile Intensive Care Unit which drives pregnant women in Israel to the nearest hospital was named in their honour.[7] Eight years later, in 2008, as a result of another donation, an ambulance was also named in their honour.[7]
In 2010, they attended a fundraising dinner for the British ORT, a Jewish charity.[8]
They also contributed to the Hampstead Theatre and the London Jewish Cultural Centre.[9][10] They donated to the Save Van Dyck for the National Portrait Gallery to acquire Anthony van Dyck's self-portrait.[11]
Heller served as the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel.[12] By 2012, he had donated over GBP£100,000 to the Conservative Party.[12] In 2014, he attended a GBP£50,000 dinner with Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.[13] He also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies, a center-right think tank based in London.[3] He later served as a member of its Board.[14]
Heller was named a Fellow Commoner by his alma mater, St Catharine's College, in 2003.[4] He received an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University in 2010.[15]
Heller was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours "for charitable services".[12][16]
Personal life and death edit
Heller was married to Morven Livingstone, Lady Heller (b. 1940), daughter of Dr Julius Livingstone, a family doctor, and Pearl (née Levy). Morven was raised with her younger sister, human rights lawyer Frances Raday, in Manchester.[17] Together they resided in Hampstead, north London.[12]
Heller was a member of the Royal Automobile Club, a private members' club.[3] He also collected modern art.[3]
Heller died on 30 January 2023, at the age of 86.[18]
References edit
- ^ "Sir Michael Aron Heller". WHO'S WHO 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Bisichi Mining plc". Companies House. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Michael Aron HELLER". Debrett's. Retrieved 15 October 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Sir Michael Heller". St Catharine's College, Cambridge. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "DIRECTORS & ADVISORS". London & Associated Properties. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ Drury, Flora (31 December 2012). "'Great treat' to be knighted, says Hampstead man". Ham & High. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Ambulance Dedication Ceremony – Sir Michael & Lady Morven Heller". Magen David Adom. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "London diners collect £400K for Ort's schools". The Jewish Chronicle. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Current Patrons". Hampstead Theatre. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Patrons". London Jewish Cultural Centre. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Van Dyck: A Master of Everyone: Supporters". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d Mason, Rowena (29 December 2012). "New Year Honours List 2013: Tory donors get gongs: Property tycoons who have given more than £160,000 to the Conservative Party have been given awards in today's New Year Honours List". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ Blanchard, Jack (12 November 2014). "David Cameron's Tories in 'cash for access' backlash as donors pay £50,000 to have 'Dinner with Dave'". The Mirror. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Sir Michael Heller". Centre for Policy Studies. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Leading philanthropist receives honorary degree". Sheffield Hallam University. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Knights Bachelor: Knighthood" (PDF). gov.uk. p. 2. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Frances Raday". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ London & Associated Properties Plc - Sir Michael Heller, Chairman, Passes Away