Ted Arison (Feb. 24, 1924-Oct.1, 1999) was born in Tel Aviv as Theodore Arisohn, a third-generation Sabra, to businessman Meir & Vera Arisohn. He studied commerce and economics at the American University of Beirut. During World War II, he fought in Italy as part of the Jewish Brigade of the British Army. Later he rose to lieutenant colonel in the Israel Defense Force, having served in Israel’s Independence War of 1948. He managed the shipping concern M. Dizengoff & Co. from 1946 to 1951.
Arison moved to New York approximately in 1954. In 1966, he moved to Miami, Florida, where with Knut Kloster he co-founded Norwegian Cruise Lines. The partners split in 1971 and the following year Arison founded Carnival Cruise Lines, which he took public in 1987, one month before a stock market crash that left potential competitors without sources of financing. Arison was instrumental in winning for Miami an expansion National Basketball Association team, which became known as the Miami Heat. He also established the Arison Foundation which supported Arison’s National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, among other nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Israel.
In 1990, Arison moved back to Israel, where he founded Arison Investments, which seven years later purchased for more than $1 billion controlling interest in Bank Hapoalim. He and his first wife Mina Wasserman had two children, Micky (born 1949) who would expand Carnival Cruise Lines and become the owner of the Miami Heat, and Shari (born 1957) who succeeded her father as owner of Arison Investments. Ted Arison was divorced from Miriam in 1966 and was remarried to Marilyn “Lin” Hersh in 1967. He adopted her son Michael.
Tomorrow, February 25: Meir Dizengoff
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SDJW condensation of a Wikipedia article
Captain Arvid Lingaas captained a cargo ship for Ted Arison…He was a funny guy and a gentleman… He passed away on August 11 at age 69. Born and raised in Valldal in a Norwegian fjord, he graduated from Norway’s naval academy in 1966 then pursued a career with merchant ships and passenger cruise lines. He served as Captain of several vessels including NCL’s Starward, Skyward and Southward before trading life at sea for maritime industry management. He was Senior Vice President of Norwegian Caribbean Lines in Miami, FL, President of United Ship Management and Senior Vice President of Cruise Operations for Holland America Line before retiring in 1995.
Diagnosed with deadly Mesothelioma in November, Arvid reacted as he lived, with great dignity, stoicism and an abiding concern for those around him. He also reacted with humor. When asked what he would choose for his epitaph he quipped, “Arvid Died. Boat for Sale.” A legendary joke teller with a huge repertoire, he cited a popular Norwegian story, When her husband Ole died, Lena went to the town newspaper with the death notice, “Ole died.” Upon learning that she could expand her announcement for no additional cost, she scribbled an addendum “Ole died. Boat for sale.”
Arvid dearly loved his longtime companion, Anna Rentz; his two adopted shelter dogs, Bob Marley and Winston; and his family. He, in turn, was admired and adored by all those who knew him, both personally and professionally in Miami, FL in his summer residences in Lake Lure and Asheville, North Carolina, in Edmonds, Washington, in Norway and at sea. He was always a gentleman, with a magnetic personality and a melt your heart smile. His many friends and colleagues knew him to be among the very best of men.
Arvid is survived by his devoted companion, his mother, Anna; his sisters, Anne Marie and Bjoerg; his brother, Bernt; and nieces and nephews.