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Huh?
Actually, these people have more in common than being very generous philanthropists: They focus their altruistic works on health (Gates Foundation, the Dells) and the arts and culture (the Walton family, Paul Allen). But only Palm Beach’s own Countess de Hoernle covers all of those bases and more.
“The sick, the poor, education, and the arts,” she said recently when asked to name her charitable priorities in order. She further explained that since it would not be possible to enjoy the arts or culture without one’s health, that seemed to be the most practical place to start!
The Countess herself was inspired when she was visiting an ailing relative in the hospital. She noticed the name plates on various wings and wondered who those very important people were. Knowing that, it should be no surprise that her first donation was the East Wing of Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, New York. Later, when she and her late husband relocated to Boca Raton, their first charitable act was a sizable donation to the Boca Raton Community Hospital.
As for the arts, she has funded many scholarships to music students. The first recipient was a talented and gifted young man named Gene Boucher, who now enjoys a career with the Metropolitan Opera Company, much to the delight and satisfaction of the Countess.
She has helped to construct major projects in the Palm Beach County area, including the Mizner Amphitheater and the new Caldwell Theater. When asked how she decides where she will contribute, the Countess says she starts at the source: What is their mission? Are they having an impact on the community? And does it make sense? Secondly, she evaluates the organization from independent sources—just the facts, no nonsense.
The Countess has served on 16 boards of directors a year, and more than 30 over the years, ranging from the American Red Cross to the YMCA. She estimates that she has gifted up to $40 million to various charitable causes over the years.
The issue that has her attention of late is the plight of our homeless veterans and their inability to receive benefits simply because they do not have a permanent address. "There is no excuse for this to happen, and something needs to be done for these brave men and women!" she says firmly.
She also believes all seniors should be safe and recently spearheaded a drive for a hurricane haven at her home in St. Andrews Estates South, the local ACTS Retirement-Life resort where she has lived for the past 26 years. “I love ACTS. Everything is done for me here, so I have all the time in the world to do what I want … and this is to give.”
Recently, I had the good fortune to create the hair for the Countess for a photographic shoot, with Glenn Heino taking the photos for her new portrait. I was not prepared for what I was to encounter. I have worked at Harrods’ Beauty Salon in London and on various assignments for Vogue around the globe. I have worked with many famous personalities, including Sharon Tate, Julie Christie, Faye Dunaway, Glenda Jackson, and models Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Kate Moss, and many others. But Countess Henrietta de Hoernle is by far the most dynamic, gentle, but strong woman I have ever met.
I was amazed by her incredible vitality, generosity, warmth, and modern approach to life. Her spirit and attitude are contagious. She makes an incredible impact on one.
She has wisdom, humor, charm, and is a great conversationalist, be it about business or her pet subject—giving her money away. She labors until 1:30 in the morning working on her business, summarizing the day's telephone calls and mail. She explains that, for her, things are getting busier rather than easing off.
After we finished the Countess's photo shoot, I continued to contemplate my impressions of my encounter with the Countess: Her mind is active, she does not carry baggage, and has no secretary to take notes or direct her day's work. She chooses not to use modern-day technology such as computers and the Internet. She brings only her pen and notebook.
When she has finished her meeting, she gets on her dune buggy and drives off to the next meeting as quickly as she arrived at this one. She is busy every day and has so many commitments to keep up with. When I asked her what “The Next Big Project” might be, she explained that she is so booked at this moment that she is not taking on any more projects, at least for the time being.
When you ask about her yesterdays, she will give you a history lesson; and when you talk about the current time, she will discuss without any hesitation her plans for the future. She plans weeks, months, and years ahead. Her time and money investments are in her charities. She states that she plans to be around for a long time. I hope so.
The Countess was born in Karlsruhe, in the Black Forest in Germany in 1912, and has resided in the United States since 1931. She has two daughters, Diana Burgess and Carolina Wagman, and has been living in Boca Raton, Florida, since 1981.
Her late husband, Adolph Count de Hoernle, was the owner of Stewart Stamping Corp. in Yonkers, New York. He sold the business and retired in 1965, and he and the Countess spent 40 years traveling the world before they decided to settle down in sunny South Florida.
In addition to her title of Countess, she has seven Dame titles: Dame de Grande Croix de Justice: Order Militaire et Hospitalier de Notre Dame du Mont Carmel; Dame of the Noble Companion of the Swan; Dame of the Knightly Association of St. George the Martyr; Dame of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem; Dame of the Most Venerable and Holy Orthodox Order of Saint Basil the Great; Dame Commander of Justice of the Order of the Knights of Malta, Holder of the Grand Cross; Dame Commander of Justice, Ambassador at Large, Order of St. John or Jerusalem, Knights of Malta. Her awards, plaques, shields, and photographs are currently on permanent display at the Spanish River Library in Boca Raton.
“Rita’s spirit and energy are amazing,” says the Countess’s friend and local broadcaster Dick Robinson. “We should all hope to be half as effective at any age as she is right now.” The Countess attributes her vitality to a daily vitamin regimen. It seems to be working as this tireless woman has been able to help construct over 32 public buildings and received honors from President George Bush and Governor Charlie Crist on the occasion of her 95th birthday.
The Countess’s motto is “Give while you live, and know where it goes,” and she is fully involved with the charities that she donates to. She is not a checkbook philanthropist but rather an interested, get-her-hands-into-it humanitarian who wants to see real results. She is someone who has made a real difference in the places that she has chosen to call home. Lucky Florida!
Harold Leighton now lives and writes in Boca Raton, Florida.
