Friends, Family Remember Warren Hellman
By: Bay Citizen Staff
Family and friends paid tribute to Warren Hellman, the financier and philanthropist, who died Sunday at age 77 from complications of treatment for leukemia.
From Emmylou Harris, fellow musician, friend, and the person who convinced Hellman to add "Hardly" to his annual "Strictly Bluegrass" festival:
“I first met Warren through our mutual love of bluegrass music and came to realize over the years what a special person he was. He gave so much of himself to so many and we are all the richer for it. I’m blessed to have known him and call him my friend.”
From San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee:
"Few have contributed so much of their heart and soul to improve our City, leaving a legacy that will endure forever. We will never forget Warren’s passion for music, his sense of humor, but most of all his love for San Francisco and his enduring faith that despite our differences, we can come together to make San Francisco a better place for everyone. We have lost a great friend, true hero and one of a kind San Franciscan."
From House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi:
"Warren Hellman was a community leader, a San Francisco legend, and an American success story. Warren's business acumen allowed him to pursue his true passion: philanthropy. His deep generosity, intellectual curiosity, and visionary dynamism changed the face of our city."
From Brian Powers, Chairman, Hellman and Friedman, the private equity firm Hellman co-founded with Tully Friedman in 1984.
“Warren was a great mentor, partner and friend, and above all, a great man. . . He will be deeply missed. His commitment to civic and philanthropic activities and his extraordinary generosity to the many causes he supported will have a lasting impact on our community.”
From Mick Hellman, one of Warren's four children:
"Dad believed in people and their power to accomplish incredible things. In that vein, he helped start several really successful businesses over the years, and he considered Hellman & Friedman his highest professional achievement. He was an incredible problem-solver, and was great at bringing groups together that had naturally opposing interests and nudging them to a solution. He was particularly passionate about the people of San Francisco, and succeeded at projects that seemed like lost causes: fundraising for an underground parking garage in Golden Gate Park and building a consensus for pension reform in San Francisco. But he always pushed himself the hardest. His learning to play the banjo is a great example of Dad's determination and ability to find joy in confronting a challenge and overcoming it. He actually became a pretty good banjo player, and it was always really cool to walk into a limited partners meeting at Hellman & Friedman and hear his band performing."
From Bob Haas, friend and business associate:
“Warren’s philanthropy was personal, purposeful and peripatetic. He didn’t confine himself to just writing checks . . . He was active in leading and guiding the causes he supported. One reason for his deep personal involvement was that he wanted to have an impact in whatever he supported. Consequently, he saw his voice, his influence and his contacts as key supplements to achieving the goals he was funding. His giving spanned a breathtaking and eclectic array of causes and organizations.”
From State Senator Leland Yee:
“My thoughts and prayers are with Warren Hellman, his family and friends. While Warren and I often had different perspectives, I always admired his generous heart and his commitment to improving our schools so that every child had a chance at success. His philanthropy will be felt for generations of San Franciscans.”