Victor William Henningsen, Jr. (May 19, 1924 – March 26, 2007) was an American businessman, entrepreneur, political activist and philanthropist.

Education and military service

Henningsen was educated at

Phillips Academy ("Not for Self") la, Finis Origine Pendet ("The End Depends Upon the Beginning") Youth From Every Quarter Knowledge and Goodness , address = 180 Main Street , city = Andover , state = Ma ...

, the

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA or Kings Point) is a United States service academy in Kings Point, New York. It trains its midshipmen (as students at the academy are called) to serve as officers in the United States Merchant ...

and

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

, where he graduated in 1950 and was a member of

Skull and Bones Skull and Bones, also known as The Order, Order 322 or The Brotherhood of Death, is an undergraduate senior secret student society at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The oldest senior class society at the university, Skull and Bone ...

. He served in the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

and

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

war zones as a midshipman, third and second mate in the merchant navy, finishing as Lt. (JG) in the

United States Navy Reserve The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Sele ...

Business career

He spent his entire professional career with his family's poultry and egg company, Henningsen Foods Inc. (founded 1889), from office boy to President/CEO. He retired in 1993 as Chairman Emeritus.

Affiliations

He volunteered his services to his almae matres, the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), as well as

Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar College is a private women's college in Sweet Briar, Virginia. It was established in 1901 by Indiana Fletcher Williams in memory of her deceased daughter, Daisy. The college formally opened its doors in 1906 and granted the B.A. deg ...

, where he was past president of the Board of

Trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to t ...

s. He was also a trustee of the Chapel of St. Thomas More at Yale. He was a past president of the

Yale Club of New York City The Yale Club of New York City, commonly called The Yale Club, is a private club in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Its membership is restricted almost entirely to alumni and faculty of Yale University. The Yale Club has a worldwide membe ...

and of the American Friends of the Bermuda Maritime Museum.

Political career

Henningsen served as chair of the Pelham Community Chest in his hometown of

Pelham Manor, New York Pelham Manor is an affluent village located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2020 census, the village had a total population of 5,752. It is located in the town of Pelham. History The Bolton Priory, Edgewood House, and Pelhamdale are ...

, as trustee/mayor of the village of Pelham Manor, co-chairman of the Pelham Town Library, and board member (1985-2007) and chairman of the Board of Governors of the Sound Shore Medical Center from 1991-94.

Death

Henningsen died in 2007, aged 82, in Pelham Manor. He was survived by his widow, Mayde (née Ludington), whom he married in 1949, and their four children and eight grandchildren.

External links

''New York Times'' obituary, March 28, 2007
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henningsen, Victor 1924 births 2007 deaths American food industry business executives Philanthropists from New York (state) People from Pelham Manor, New York Yale University alumni Place of birth missing 20th-century American philanthropists