Jack N Mandel

Mandel and his two younger brothers, Joseph and Morton, built Premier Industrial Corp. into one of the nation's biggest businesses. The Mandels reached the mid-200's in Forbes magazine's yearly list of wealthiest Americans. Forbes estimated Jack Mandel's worth at $600 million in 1996, but the former Premier president and chairman had already given vast sums to favorite causes. The brothers founded the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, both at Case Western Reserve University. They supported many other causes from Cleveland to Israel. Premier, now part of Premier Farnell, distributes equipment and chemicals nationwide to the automotive field and other industries. Mort, the youngest brother, ran the Premier office at first, while Jack and Joe made sales calls. He was born in Kolbuszowa, then part of Austria, now of Poland. His scholarly father emigrated to America, but World War I kept the rest of the family from following until 1920. He graduated in 1929 from Glenville High School. He studied at Fenn College but was too busy to graduate. He outlived his wife, the former Lilyan Kohler; their daughter, Bonnie; and an older sister, Meriam Cole. Until his death, he chaired Parkwood Corp.'s finance committee and the Jack and Lilyan Mandel Foundation. Survivors: son, Sheldon; brothers Joseph C. and Morton L.; and many nieces and nephews.