Herbert Selig Lichtenberg

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by West Point AOG on November 11, 2009:

Successful businessman and philanthropist, particularly to the U.S. Military Academy, Herbert S. Lichtenberg, Class of 1955, died at age 76 Oct. 28. He was buried at West Point Cemetery Oct. 30. After graduating from West Point, Lichtenberg served as a lieutenant for three years in the U.S. Air Force. In 1958, upon completion of his service obligation, he joined his father's firm, S. Lichtenberg and Sons, in New York City. He quickly demonstrated a strong aptitude for sales and personnel management within the curtain and drapery segment of the home fashions industry and, in 1980, he became president. Lichtenberg's renowned philanthropy to West Point has been accomplished with several unique characteristics as he contributed quietly, often behind the scenes, without fanfare. He focused on projects that the academy would otherwise be unable to accomplish for itself. He had an ability to negotiate, encourage and motivate the involvement and giving of others with charitable resources. The projects which he supported with his immense energy and financial resources clearly reflected his great love of West Point and particularly, the Corps of Cadets. Lichtenberg's contributions to West Point have been and will continue to be truly significant. His contributions extend across a wide range of activities, and they are in three broad areas - support of religious programs and activities, support of Army athletic teams and programs and support of West Point's quality of life. His support of religious programs and activities at West Point began in 1965 when he joined a group dedicated to erecting a West Point Jewish Cadet Chapel. Through his organizational skills, energetic fund-raising and unselfish generosity, the Jewish Chapel was completed and consecrated in 1984. The chapel allows a distinctly visible Jewish presence at the academy. Since his return to New York City in 1958, Lichtenberg closely followed Army athletics. In the late 1990s, he responded to a superintendent's wish to have an indoor tennis facility built as part of the Bicentennial Campaign. Lichtenberg and the Class of 1955 jointly funded the Lichtenberg Tennis Center. The tennis center served as the Class of 1955's 50th reunion gift to the academy. This building was of such superb functional and architectural design that it was designated by the United States Tennis Association to receive the USTA "Outstanding Tennis Facility Award" in 1999. At this time, Lichtenberg learned of the need to construct a dedicated gymnastics facility. In turn, he and his good friend, Lou Gross, combined their energy and resources to fund and construct the Gross Sports Facility, which was opened in 2001. Years later, Lichtenberg learned of the pressing need for new housing to attract and retain quality athletic coaches for Army's sports teams. In coordination with the superintendent and the director of Intercollegiate Athletics, an idea was conceived to build six sets of new quarters for coaches. Again, Lichtenberg assumed the lead role in funding. Further, he played a central role in encouraging others to become major donors to the athletic coaches' housing project. The success of the prompt construction of the first three sets of new quarters led to the decision to expand the original project of six with an addition of three more sets of coaches' quarters, bringing the total to nine. Lichtenberg also purchased and donated a custom-designed, new motorcycle from the Orange County Choppers for use by the spirit team at rallies and football games. Lichtenberg is credited with the idea of having the "old grad" Marchback associated with the Plebe Marchback from Lake Frederick to West Point that commenced in 2000. The idea allowed for hundreds of West Point graduates to bond with today's cadets. Consequently, early in their four-year West Point experience, cadets get a sense of the significance of joining the "Long Gray Line." By 2006, the West Point Association of Graduates took great pride in presenting the 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award to Lichtenberg. The Distinguished Graduate Award is given to a West Point graduate who has done great things. Lichtenberg is survived by his wife, Gertrude; sons, Scott and Michael; and grandchildren Andrew, Carolyn, Lauren, Claudia and Emily.

admin