Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

1916 – 1997

Robert Westheimer was highly regarded as a wise investor. As a principal at Westheimer Enterprises, he managed funds for Westheimer & Co.; Hayden, Stone Inc.; Harrison & Co.; and Prudential-Bache Securities.

But Westheimer, 79 at the time of his award, also knew about investing in his community, especially in programs benefitting youth. He invested much of his time in programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Hamilton County Children’s Services Commission and the Hamilton County Juvenile Court.

“My interests have focused on youth,” he said. “If you develop a young person into a productive person, that’s where you can do the most good. Conversely, if you lose them, that’s where you do the most harm.”

Westheimer started volunteering early in life. “I have to credit my parents and their teaching by example,” Westheimer said. “They were both terribly involved in their community. I grew up in an atmosphere where that was what life was all about to leave the world better than we found it.”

He served as chairman of the board at ChoiceCare following its reorganization in 1989. He also chaired the boards of Cintech Tele-Management Co. and Richwood Pharmaceutical Co. He was director emeritus of Cincinnati Financial Corp.

“Bob’s lesson to all of us is that you don’t create a compassionate and just community once and for all,” said Richard Aft, United Way and Community Chest president. “You have to recreate it every day with your work for what is good and merciful.”

Robert Westheimer died February 23, 1997 at 81.