The Crowd: Fond memories of a great man, Henry Segerstrom

Several years ago, in a private conversation with Henry Segerstrom, the late Orange County native son shared insight into his formative years.

“My family was very frugal,” Segerstrom offered. “They were hard-working, successful farmers who lived within strict conservative spending boundaries. Whenever there was extra money, it was reinvested in buying more land.”

Sitting in the living room of his contemporary Newport Beach Bayfront estate about five years ago, the man who was instrumental in transforming agrarian Orange County into the world-class community it is today, reminisced over early Segerstrom family experiences.

“One of my fond childhood memories was the day when my mother took my sister and I to Los Angeles to buy a carpet for our home in Santa Ana,” he said.” I was probably 8 or so and my sister a little older. As I told you, every extra dollar went into the land. But on this day, my mother had money to buy a carpet, something she had wanted for some time.

“She was so pleased to take us to Los Angeles with her to select the perfect rug for our home. Both my sister and I remember this simple outing with great pleasure.”

A member of the Segerstrom household staff entered to announce that lunch was being served. The middle-aged woman, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun, her attire a pressed and starched white cotton dress uniform overlaid with a striped pinafore apron sporting a pleated edge, asked if we required a particular beverage before luncheon.

Segerstrom declined, as did I, and we departed the living room to join Henry’s wife, Elizabeth, for lunch. The man who in mid-life transformed a portion of his family’s precious farmland into one of the world’s most successful retail plazas, met his third wife, Elizabeth Swiecicki Macavoy, in New York in 2000 in the dining room of one of the city’s posh Fifth Avenue hotels. They married on July 29 of that year in a ceremony at the St. Regis.

Segerstrom, then 77, and his young bride, a practicing psychologist with an academic pedigree including study at Warsaw University, University of Geneva, Yale University and New York University, returned to Orange County and together became seriously involved in the final design phase of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, named in part for Segerstrom’s late second wife, who had been a formidable presence on the Orange County social and cultural scene for more than two decades.

Gossip swirled upon Elizabeth’s arrival. She was young, slightly more than half of Henry’s age, vivacious and beautiful. Her fashion sense was au currant and cutting edge with a significant leaning toward the latest in European design. Costa Mesa, conservative and staid, took immediate notice.

Instantly, the woman who speaks four languages — Polish, Russian, French and English — charmed those who may have doubted her. Henry Segerstrom’s family, including sons Toren and Anton and daughter Andrea, their spouses, children and grandchild, embraced Elizabeth as did longtime loyal staff members of the large, extended Segerstrom corporate family.

Over the ensuing 15 years, until his death on Feb. 20, 2015, Elizabeth and Henry shared a remarkable life together. Elizabeth was Henry’s third act, and just like the women in his first act, Yvonne (married 31 years), and second act, Renée (married 20 years), Henry had found a partner of extraordinary compassion, a vibrant life force that reflected superbly upon him. Elizabeth was unquestionably his muse.

Elizabeth arrived at the luncheon table in her customary upbeat spirit. She kissed Henry “hello” and gave him a big hug from behind, placing her arms around his shoulders. I received her gracious welcome as well, a kiss on both cheeks.

“We need to discuss plans for the upcoming Carnegie Hall event in New York,” Elizabeth shared.

“Henry will be honored with the Carnegie [Hall] Medal of Excellence,” she added. It is an honor that has been bestowed on only four individuals over the institution’s 108 year history.

Henry Segerstrom was extremely proud of this recognition, which unfolded on June 7, 2010. He had devoted a significant portion of his adult life in support of the arts.

He was the highly visible force behind the creation of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the adjacent cultural landmarks, including the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, South Coast Repertory Theatre and the soon-to-be-constructed Orange County Museum of Art, among other cultural icons in Orange County and elsewhere in the nation.

Only close insiders are aware of the extreme effort required to translate such cultural vision into reality.

Arguably Henry Segerstrom’s most admirable quality was his reserved dignity. He welcomed recognition, yet accepted praise with restraint.

His honors were many and impressive. Among them, the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund, presented to him by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; knighthood presented by Carl XVI Gustav, the king of Sweden; and the leadership award from the prestigious former Business Committee in the Arts of Orange County.

Segerstrom, who graduated from Stanford University following combat service in Europe during World War II, was also honored with the Ernest C. Arbuckle Award from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, its highest honor.

On May 8, an exhibit on Henry Segerstrom’s life featuring many of his honors along with marvelous photographs, videos and selections from the Segerstrom art collection opened at South Coast Plaza.

The exhibition, “Courage of Imagination,” runs through May 31 and is open to the public. It is a must-see. Created under the artistic supervision of Elizabeth Segerstrom, the display is worthy of any of the world’s distinguished museums.

Interactive, visual and emotional, the presentation provides an overview of the life and legacy of one extraordinary man. Perhaps beyond that, this is also the story of Orange County told from the perspective of one pioneering Swedish family transported into the wide-open, barren and strange land that was 19th century California.

My personal memory of this unusual man was that he was a gentleman. Make no mistake, he was an elitist, but Henry was never dismissive or snobbish. His standards were high, extremely high, and he knew and demanded quality in every aspect of life, especially in people. He surrounded himself with people of intellect, artistic vision and abilities of all kinds.

Henry T. Segerstrom was a standard bearer for what journalist Tom Brokaw labeled “the greatest generation.” He had courage of imagination. He also had the guts to transform dreams into brick and mortar. The Segerstrom legacy is a foundation for a new generation of dreamers to build upon, to take life into uncharted territory.

Henry will be missed, he will be remembered and with good fortune his legacy will echo for years to come, influencing others to be their best.

THE CROWD runs Fridays and Saturdays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.