HUGO BEIT

BEIT--Hugo Herbert Beit von Speyer, died peacefully at home on February 26th, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Born in Frankfurt am Main, the son of Elisabeth de Neufville Beit von Speyer and Eduard Beit von Speyer, he was a member of several distinguished families whose accomplishments lasted over several centuries, and included the families Beit, Speyer, Merton and de Neufville. Marcus Salomon Beit founded Norddeutsch Affinerie AG in Hamburg, Germany, in 1770, the second largest copper company in the world, which acquired Cumerio in 2008, and was renamed Aurubis AG. The Beit family home in Frankfurt am Main is now the Rocco Forte Hotel Villa Kennedy in the Kennedyalle. Alfred Beit, the South African diamond magnate, and Nathan Meyer Rothschild funded Cecil Rhoades, founder of the DeBeers diamond mines in South Africa. Alfred Beit's nephew, Sir Alfred Beit and Lady Clementine Beit moved their renowned art collection from their home in Kensington Palace Gardens to Russborough House in County Wicklow, Ireland in 1952, one of the most beautiful Palladian houses in Ireland. The Speyers were bankers in Frankfurt since the 14th century with family firms in Paris, London and New York. The Speyer Bank, a leading investment house in Frankfurt, was usually ranked just behind the Rothschilds. Hugo Beit's great uncle, James Speyer, founded the Museum of the City of New York with John D. Rockefeller Jr., and James' brother, Edgar Speyer, founded the London tube system. Wilhelm Merton was the founder of Metallgesellschaft AG in Frankfurt in 1881, the largest non-ferrous mining company in the world. Sebastien de Neufville founded the de Neufville bank in the 16th century, which closed in the early 20th century. Hugo Beit's education began in Switzerland at the Ecole Nouvelle de Paudex, Lausanne, and upon coming to this country continued at Eaglebrook, Deerfield, Yale University, Bachelor of Engineering, and Columbia Business School. Upon graduation from Yale, he became an engineer for Babcock and Wilcox, and upon graduation from Columbia Business School, he became a. private investor, but never lost his love of engineering, serving as the Secretary of Yale Science and Engineering for 40 years. His love of all feats of engineering, including buildings, bridges, airplanes, etc., were the inspiration of his life. He was above all a gentleman, affable, kind, elegant and generous. His deep love for family and friends all over the world touched many lives. Surviving are his wife, Louise, and their daughter, Lili Beit Enloe, granddaughter, Sabrina, and son-in-law, Charles Enloe, of Washington, DC. Visiting at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 1st, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Mass at St. Ignatius Church at Park Avenue and 83rd Street, burial at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.