THE WILLMA
AND ALBERT
MUSHER
FAMILY
Albert and Willma Musher
ALBERT MUSHER AND THE MUSHER
FAMILY
BEGINNINGS
Albert Musher was born in 1904 to Anna and
Nathan Musher. His father, Nathan, who was born in Russia, lived for a short
time in Palestine, where he learned English; he then emigrated to the United
States where he became a travel ing salesman for the Singer Sewing Machine
Company. In this capacity, he traveled from San Francisco to Washington, DC
where he settled his family, having purchased a small olive oil business from an
Italian neighbor. This company, Pompeian Olive Oil, bec ame the world’s largest
olive oil company at one time, and the basis for the family’s considerable
wealth. However, in addition to his financial fortune, there were times when
Albert and his family were without resources. This variety of life experiences
has given Albert a broad perspective, a sincere empathy for the disadvantaged,
an appreciation for the intellectual qualities of the university, and a sharp
business sense for astute investment strategies.
Sidney Musher, Albert Musher (standing, l. to r.),
their parents, Anna and Nathan Musher and maternal
grandmother
EDUCATION
After a childhood in Washington D.C., Albert
attended George Washington University, and the Wharton School of Business. He
received a B.A. degree in economics from Johns Hopkins University. He then
joined the growing family busi ness where he worked in every area, from
developing new products, to marketing, to holding executive offices. In the
laboratory, where the utilization of oil by-products was being investigated, he
developed one of the chief characteristics of both his bus iness career and his
personal life: an active curiosity about how things work.
BUSINESS
ACHIEVEMENTS
His interest in how things work, particularly
how substances interact, became one of the hallmarks of Albert Musher’s career.
He went on to hold over 50 U.S. and foreign patents in both the food and
pharmaceutical fields, sharin g with his younger brother, Sidney, an interest in
using antioxidant agents derived from raw cereals to protect oils from
rancidity. Their work with raw cereals led to the development of oatmeal skin
products. Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal, one of these produc ts, is now marketed
nationally.
Since his days as a college student in a
psychology class, Mr. Musher has cultivated an interest in "what makes people
tick." This interest no doubt aided his rise to prominence in the business
world, where his acumen extended from the laboratory to th e executive office to
the boardroom. In the span of his career, he has built new businesses and has
served as President of numerous business enterprises including Pompeian Olive
Oil Company, General Mayonnaise Corporation, Aveeno Pharmaceuticals, Private
Brands, Inc., the Musher Corporation, and Musher Laboratories. He also has been
a board director of Stiefel Laboratories and of Cooper
Laboratories.
Mr. and Mrs. Werner Stiefel, Mr. Albert Musher,
Columbia University School of Social Work Dean Ronald Feldman, and Columbia
University Provost Jonathan Cole on the occasion of the establishment of the
Musher Professorship
FAMILY
In 1932 Albert Musher married Willma, the
second child of Jack and Sadie Rosenthal. The couple were happily married for 53
years until Willma’s death in 1985. Together they raised two children. Their
son, Jonathan Musher, receiv ed a B.A. in economics from Columbia College and an
M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and is now a senior vice-president in an
investment firm. Their daughter, Betsy Boruchoff, received a B.A. from Sarah
Lawrence College and a degree in social work fro m Fordham University and is a
practicing psychotherapist. The family now includes seven grand-children and
five great grand-children.
COMMUNITY
CONTRIBUTIONS
Throughout his life, Mr. Musher has had a
strong personal commitment to the good of the community. He served as President
of B’Nai B’rith’s Mother Lodge, the Parents’ Associations of the Bronx High
School of Science, and the Cli nton-LaSalle Community Center. He was founder and
first President of the West Side Association of Community Centers. In addition,
Mr. Musher has served as Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the New
York City Board of Education, Community Educa tion Division, a Board Director of
the United Parents Association of New York, a Committee Member of the Division
of Community Education of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services,
and a founder of Temple Sholom (New Milford, CT).
Mr. Albert Musher at the altar of Temple Emanu-El in
New York City
Comments by Albert Musher at
the Celebration Establishing the Willma and Albert Musher Chair
Professorship
Low Library Rotunda Columbia University in
the City of New York
February 23, 1995
The Willma and Albert Musher Chair has
evolved from my conviction that the betterment of human life can best be
accomplished through the use of the principles and procedures of science. My
Concept envisions bringing about life betterment and contentmen t through more
effective science and life engineering. My hope is that the Musher Chair can
play a crucial role in making this vision a reality.
We know that the everyday human being is
wonderfully, magnificently, and, thus far, incomprehensibly structured. Humans
can see the glorious colors of the flower, and the beauty of the sea, and the
stars and the moon. They can hear the rushing sounds o f the winds through the
trees and delight in the songs and harmony of the birds and nature. They can
sense the delicate flavor of fine foods—and they can also hear and feel the
pangs of horrible moans. They can create thoughts, and ideas, and machines tha t
can fly and that can make people happy—and, also, that can destroy them. They
can reproduce themselves into countless magnificent creations with manifold
abilities to create and perform endless acts of beauty and, yes, also acts of
ugliness.
In many respects, the human entity operates
as a mechanical machine. It has its own pump to circulate its blood to every
region of the body. And, it generates its own physical energy to walk and
breathe. It can even heal itself. What complexity of work ing parts this body
is, to maintain, and to operate, and to flourish!
Even more, this human entity has sensory and
communicating devices which our human mind does not yet have the ability to
understand. There are devices such as the conscience to give us a prod when we
are on the wrong track—and the emotion of satisfacti on when we are moving in
the right direction. Also, when we need comfort or guidance there are lines of
communication to spiritual sources, to friends, to family, and, even, to social
workers. In sum, we are creations of unimaginable scientific genius. Wi th such
an unbelievable fund of power and of abilities, what inconceivable opportunities
are open to the human! With the potential given to us by our Creator, and with
our capabilities of reason and creativity, the future of mankind can be
unlimited.
But, we must realize that our magnificent
potential can either languish in the dust or shine in the sun. My Concept aims
to enable human beings to structure their lives and their behavior so as to
achieve the application of proven scientific procedures . The realization of our
full potential can result in steady movement towards life betterment and in
greater contentment. Indeed, yesterday’s miracles can now be explained by
today’s science. And, in turn, today’s science will generate tomorrow’s miracles
.
Quality of life is the centerpiece of human
existence. My Concept envisions life betterment through more effective science
and life engineering, and my dream is that we will be able to improve lives
throughout the world. I am grateful and delighted tha t my dream is now taking
an important first step toward becoming a reality, and that establishment of the
Willma and Albert Musher Chair is that crucial step. It is my hope that others
will soon join this important effort to advance humankind through scie nce and,
subsequently, through improved social work practice.
Albert Musher at the celebration of the
establishment of the Professorship and Program
Mr. Albert Musher’s great grandson Jeffrey Winer,
grandson Lukas Musher, grandson Jeremy Musher (l. to r.) listening to the
speeches at the celebration of the establishment of the Professorship and
Program at Low Memorial Library, Columbia University
Upon Appointment of the First
Willma and Albert Chair Professor Mr. Musher Presented the Following Statement
to Columbia University.
"Willma and I applaud the appointment of
Edward J. Mullen as the first occupant of the Willma and Albert Musher Chair for
the Betterment of Life through Science and Technology at the Columbia University
School of Social Work.
We congratulate Columbia University
in the professionalism that this appointment brings to the
University.
We congratulate the Columbia University
School of Social Work for the talent and wisdom and professional scholarship
that this appointment brings to them in such a significant move forward towards
life contentment and life behavior efficiency.
As a Musher family of parents, children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren and those to follow, we acknowledge with
great satisfaction the feeling of confidence engendered in us by knowing that
the reigns for the blossoming of this Musher Concept f or life betterment and
happiness have been placed within the province of the highly respected Columbia
University, the highly respected Dean Ronald A. Feldman, and the highly
respected first Professorship holder Edward J. Mullen.
What better legacy can we leave for our
family that follows! May God bless all of you who now venture forth into this
significant step towards a more contented life for all of
mankind."
Willma and Albert
Musher
September 21, 1995
Willma and Albert Musher
Columbia University School of Social Work Dean Ronald
A. Feldman, Mr. Albert Musher, Professor Edward J. Mullen (l. to r.) on the
occasion of the celebration of the naming of the Chair
Professorship
Willma (inset) and Albert Musher, their two children
Betsy Boruchoff and Jonathan (top), granddaughters Nancy Orgel (l.) and Barbara
Winer (r.), and great-grandchildren.
Dean Ronald A. Feldman, Provost Jonathan Cole, and Mr.
Albert Musher (l. to r.) on occasion of the celebration of the establishment of
the Musher Chair Professorship
Willma and Albert Musher’s daughter, Betsy Boruchoff
(c.) with her daughters Barbara Winer (l.) and Nancy Orgel (r.) at the
establishment of the Musher Chair Professorship
Comments by Noah Musher (age 10) at the
Celebration Establishing the Willma and Albert Musher Chair
Professorship
Low Library Rotunda
Columbia University in the City of New
York
February 23, 1995
Introduction by the Dean of the Columbia
University School of Social Work, Dean Ronald Feldman: "We’re going to have one
final last speaker, who I had not expected to speak, but who I suspect will be
the most effective speaker of anyone you heard to
night!"
I’m Noah Musher, grandson of Albert and
Willma Musher and behind me are Grampa Albert’s grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Grampa Albert has told me about the work that
he and Columbia University are doing together. All of us wanted to be a part of
this party tonight.
I would just like to say for all of us
grandchildren and great grandchildren and for all the children of the world who
will benefit from this work as they grow up:
Thank you Grampa and all the people at
Columbia University for trying to help him achieve his goal and make lives of
the future better and happier.
So again, thank you Grampa, we all love
you.
Musher Family members including, at the podium,
grandson Noah Musher in the Columbia University Low Memorial Library rotunda on
the occasion of the celebration of the establishment of the Musher
Professorship
