September 2008 - The Parklander Magazine

What does a 96 year-old-Countess have in common with Bill and
Melinda Gates, The Walton Family, Michael and Susan Dell and
Paul Allen More than one would think.
By Colleen Wilson
They have more in common than just being
generous philanthropists: they concentrate their
altruistic works into health (Gates Foundation, the
Dells) and the arts and culture (the Walton family,
Paul Allen). But only Boca Raton’s own Countess
de Hoernle covers all of those bases and more.
“The sick, the poor, education and the arts,” the
Countess said recently when asked to name her
charitable priorities in order. She further
explained, 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 was inspired while visiting an ailing
relative in the hospital. She noticed the name plates
on various wings and wondered who those people
were. Knowing that, it should be no surprise that
her first donation was the entire east wing of
Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, New York.When
she and her late husband relocated to Boca Raton,
their first charitable act was a sizeable donation to
the Boca Raton Community Hospital.
As for the arts, she has funded many scholarships
to music students. Her first recipient was a 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 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 then evaluates
the organization from independent
sources; just the facts, no nonsense.
The Countess has served on 16 Boards of
Directors, ranging from the American
Red Cross to the YMCA, and 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 said firmly.
The Countess also believes that all seniors should
be safe and recently spearheaded a drive for a
hurricane haven at her home in St. Andrews
Estates South, the Boca 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 that is to give.”
Recently, I had the good fortune to work on the
Countess’ hairstyle for a portrait shoot with
photographer Glenn Heino. I had worked at
Harrods’ Beauty Salon in London and on various
assignments for Vogue around the globe with
many famous personalities, including Sharon
Tate, Julie Christie, Faye Dunaway, Glenda
Jackson, models Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Kate
Moss and many others, but Countess Henrietta
de Hoernle was 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 has wisdom, humor, charm and is a great
conversationalist, albeit on business or on her
charitable projects. In her 96th year she is still
busy giving. She labors until 1:30 in the morning
working on her business, summarizing the day’s
telephone calls and answering her mail. She
explains that things are getting busier rather than
easing off.
After we finished the photo shoot, I continued to
contemplate my impressions of my encounter
with the Countess. Her mind is active, she does
not carry baggage, no secretary takes notes for
her or directs her day’s work. She chooses not to
use modern technology such as computers or the
Internet. She brings only a pen and notebook to
every meeting. When she’s finished a meeting,
she gets on her buggy and quickly drives off to
the next meeting. She is busy every day and has
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, she is not taking on any more projects,
at least for the time being.
When you ask about her past, she will give you a
history lesson, and when you talk about the
present, she will discuss without any hesitation
her plans for the future. She plans weeks, months
and years ahead just like someone half her age.
The difference is that her investments are in her
charities. She states that she plans to be around
for a long time.
The Countess was born in Karlsruhe, Black
Forest, Germany in 1912. She has resided in the
US since 1931 and has two daughters, Diana
Burgess and Carolina Wagman, and has lived in
Boca Raton since 1981. Her late husband, Adolf
Count de Hoernle was the owner of Stewart
Stamping Corp. in Yonkers, New York. He sold
the business and retired in 1965 and then 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 including
Dame de Grande Croix de Justice, Dame of the
56 SEPTEMBER 2008