WALTER W. HESS

HESS--Walter Wollman Jr. (Tommy), Walter Wollman Hess Jr., 93, died peacefully at home in New York City on March 23, 2013. Tommy was born in 1919 in New York City to Walter and Blanche (Sonn) Hess. He attended The Choate School, University of Virginia and served in the U.S. Army in World War II as Chief of Signal Intelligence Service (Mediterranean Theater) and attained the rank of Major. Tommy spent virtually his entire career on Wall Street, as Partner and then Vice Chairman at L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin and later as a Managing Director at Bear Stearns. His love and commitment for his professional life led him to serve as a Board Member of the Securities Industry Association. In 1977, he received the Wall Street Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Tommy was also passionate about giving back to the community. He gave much of his time to organizations as an active board member including the Blythedale Children's Hospital, Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, The Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged and the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital. Tommy's passion for golf, tennis and connecting with friends drew him to his beloved Century Country Club where he was a member for over 50 years and served as President. Tommy will be remembered for living life to the fullest, for his magnetic, embracing personality, and his genuine interest in others. It's hard to imagine someone with more life-long friends. His greatest love was for his three families which he wove together in an extraordinary way. He will be sorely missed by his devoted wife Margaret (Peggy) Hess, his beloved children Peter (Debbie Kenyon), Tom (Georgi Dwight), Jill (Jim Wollum) and his adored grandchildren Rachel, Carly, Allie, Sara, Camey and Jamie. He will also be greatly missed by his two step families which he embraced as his own: John Newburger, Susan Newburger (Michael Karchmer), Billy Straus (Lynne Weinstein), Nancy Tillison, Wendy Aronsson (Jeff) and their children Ian, Emma, Michael, William and Craig. He was the revered uncle of John Grace (Pat) and Susan Grace, and great-uncle of Topher and Jenny. He was predeceased by his wife of 28 years, Barbara, a sister Muriel and his first wife, Louise Cohen. He leaves a fantastic legacy and a void we aspire to fill. The family will receive visitors on March 28, 5-8pm and a memorial service will be held on April 5, 11:30am, both at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave, NYC. Donations in Tommy's memory may be made to Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, One Gustave Levy Pl., Box 1070, NY, NY 10029.