WARREN SERENBETZ

SERENBETZ--Warren.

Warren Lewis Serenbetz, of Harrison, New York, a pioneer of the container leasing industry, passed away peacefully early on the morning of April 4 at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, surrounded by his loving family. In his business life, he was a man of great vision and acumen; in his home life, he was a man of great warmth and generosity. Mr. Serenbetz was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 27, 1924. He graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens. In 1944, he graduated from the Navy Officers Training Program at Columbia University with a B.S. in engineering and the rank of ensign. Mr. Serenbetz served as a gunnery and recognition officer aboard the USS Weiss in the north and south Atlantic during World War II. In 1948, Mr. Serenbetz married Thelma Randby, whose love, friendship, and support sustained him over the next seven decades of his life. Mr. Serenbetz received his M.S. in engineering from Columbia in 1949. Shortly thereafter, he began work for the Railway Express Agency as an assistant chief engineer, rising to senior vice president in charge of technical services. During his tenure at Railway Express, he became involved with the American Management Association and the Containerization and Intermodal Institute. He joined the American National Standards Institute where he helped to develop the standards for the international intermodal cargo container. In 1960, Mr. Serenbetz established the REA Leasing Corporation, eventually forming the cargo container leasing division known as Interpool. The division was acquired by Steadman Industries in 1968, with Mr. Serenbetz as president and chief executive officer. Interpool separated from Steadman Industries and registered as a public company in 1969. Two years later the company was listed on the American Stock Exchange. Prior to the companies sale to Thyssen Bornemiza in 1978, Mr. Serenbetz was instrumental in fostering many innovations in the intermodal container business, including chassis leasing in the United States, and the formation of Con-Trailer and Railpool. In 1986, he was part of a small group that formed Trac Lease, a chassis leasing company. In 1988, a group of investors including Mr. Serenbetz bought Interpool from TBG. Interpool grew into the largest marine leasing company in the world, leasing over one million containers. It was sold to the Fortress Group of Funds for $2.4 billion in 2007. Mr. Serenbetz, as a representative of Radcliff Group Inc., oversaw operations and then served as a consultant at the company until his retirement in 2004. During his long career, Mr. Serenbetz served as president and chairman of the Containerization and Intermodal Institute, receiving the organization's Connie award. He served on the board of the American Management Association and as chairman of the compensation committee. He was the co-founder of the Institute of International Container Lessors and was named CEO of the Year by Financial World magazine. Over his four decades in the industry he mentored many executives who were able to witness his tenaciousness and admirable leadership skills. Mr. Serenbetz was a member of the Union League Club in Manhattan, The Apawamis Club in Rye, New York, and the Larchmont Yacht Club. He served as a member of the board of sessions at the Larchmont Avenue Church and ushered regularly up until his death. In December of 1997, Mr. Serenbetz and his wife Thelma established the Serenbetz Family Foundation, a charitable organization whose core mission is to provide educational opportunities for deserving children and young adults. The stewardship of this foundation became one of the passions of their lives. Mr. Serenbetz loved the sea. From boyhood summers at his family's summer home in Cutchogue, to his last vacation in the Caribbean, the sea was for him a source of pleasure and renewal, whether in the water or on it. He was an avid yachtsman and spent many happy hours captaining his sloop and his trawler. Swimming, snorkeling, and walks on the beach with Thelma were among his favorite pastimes. Above all, Mr. Serenbetz was the patriarch, and along with Thelma, the heart and soul of their large and growing extended family. Despite his many remarkable achievements, it was their achievements - professional, educational, athletic, and artistic - of which he was most proud and that brought him the most joy. Mr. Serenbetz is survived by his cherished wife Thelma; his four sons -Warren and his wife Cindi of Wilton, CT; Paul of New Haven, CT; Stuart and his wife Jean of Stamford, CT; and Clay of Friday Harbor, WA; his six grandchildren - Christin (Weberman) and her husband Adam; Warren III and his wife Jenni; Tucker; Hunter; Skyler; and Robert; and by two great-grandchildren; along with many loving nieces and nephews and their spouses and children. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 10 at 4pm at the Larchmont Avenue Church, 60 Forest Park Avenue, Larchmont, New York, after a private internment ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Warren's memory to the Centennial Fund at the Larchmont Avenue Church.