Donald Stralem
Donald Sigmund Stralem (1903–1976) was an American investment banker and philanthropist. He founded Stralem and Company in 1967 and served as its chairman. Earlier in his career, he worked at Hallgarten & Company and co-founded the North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
He was born in Port Washington, New York, to a Jewish family. His family name had been Strahlheim before his father changed it to Stralem in 1901. He graduated from Morristown School in 1920 and earned a BA from Harvard University in 1924. He also did graduate studies at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Stralem was active in many charitable causes. He led the Travelers Aid movement in New York, serving as president of the Travelers Aid Society of New York for six years and as president of the National Travelers Aid Association. New York City named him honorary deputy commissioner of the Fire Department for his public service. He led the United Service Organizations Fund of New York, chaired the George Junior Republic Association, and advised the Girl Scouts of the USA (New York).
He sat on the boards of several major companies, including Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, Continental Telephone, Independent Telephone, and he chaired the Finance Committee of Sony Pictures. He also served on boards for Atlantic Gulf Petroleum, United States Leather, and Stahl-Meyer.
Stralem married Jean Lehman Ickelheimer of the Lehman family in 1928. They had two daughters, Sandra and Lynn. Jean was an art collector and philanthropist who served on boards such as the American Theatre Wing and Lighthouse International. Stralem enjoyed tennis and was a Bond Club of New York finalist in 1951. He died in 1976 at age 72 or 73.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:16 (CET).