Oestreicher, Gerry, 1916-1987.

Gerard Oestreicher was born on July 29, 1916 in New York to Carl and Lucille Oestreicher. Born in Germany, Carl Oestreicher immigrated to New York in 1893, finding success as a clothing retailer before moving on to real estate development. With a deep connection to his Jewish heritage, Carl was a community leader at his synagogue. He also founded the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, an organization his son would eventually lead.

After graduating from Columbia College in 1937, Gerard Oestreicher enlisted in the military to fight in World War II. His actions during the Battle of the Bulge were awarded with a Bronze Star Medal. After his military service, Oestreicher briefly worked in politics as the New York State finance chairman for Adlai Ewing Stevenson's 1956 presidential run. Following in his father's footsteps, Oestreicher began working in real estate after Stevenson's loss. Although his career in politics ended, his political interests never faded; he was a staunch supporter of Israel and a generous political investor until the end of his life. As his real estate career developed and blossomed, so did his philanthropic pursuits. While Oestreicher founded and chaired the Oestreicher Realty Companies, he also served as the chairman of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies' real-estate division, the president of Columbia University's Jewish Campus Life Fund and a board member for the Educational Alliance.

During the 1950s Oestreicher not only began investing in politics, but also started seriously supporting theatre arts. Providing financial support for the Broadway production of Don Appell's Lullaby (1954) led him to invest more frequently in theatrical productions. Before long, Oestreicher wanted to invest more than finances; after conceiving the idea for an Israeli inspired play he began moonlighting as a theatrical producer. Oestreicher was probably best known on Broadway as the producer of Milk and Honey, a 1961 romantic musical set in modern Israel that was written by the composer Jerry Herman and the playwright Don Appell. He went on to successfully produce A Girl Could Get Lucky (1964), The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1965) and But, Seriously...(1969). In 1972, Oestreicher and James Nederlander built and operated New York City's Uris Theatre, the largest of the Broadway theatres with over 1,900 seats. Now known as the Gershwin, the theatre houses the American Theatre Hall of Fame, continues to feature popular theatrical productions and still has the highest seating capacity on Broadway. Oestreicher continued to host and produce plays and musicals in New York City until the end of his life. He passed away on May 24, 1987.

From the guide to the Gerry Oestreicher papers, 1929-1989, 1961-1969, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)