Apparel Exec Mannie Fineman Dies
California apparel executive Emmanuel H. “Mannie” Fineman died Feb. 24 of cancer. He was 90 years old.
Fineman, a Philadelphia native, moved in 1930 to Los Angeles. He founded women’s sportswear firm Hollywood Casuals with his late first wife, Evelyn, after a stint in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Fineman was an early supporter of the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute in Duarte, Calif. He worked for many years and in many capacities—including chairman emeritus of the center and vice president, chairman and member of the board of directors—on behalf of the research and care facility.
“His first love was always City of Hope,” said Fran Fineman, his wife of 29 years.
Fineman was also a former president of the Merchant’s Club, now called the Apparel Industries Group, which raises funds for the center. He was instrumental in organizing other industry support groups for City of Hope, including the Music and Entertainment Industries Chapter, the Food Industries Circle and the Home Improvement Industries Chapter.
“Mannie helped shape City of Hope in a profound way,” said Gil N. Schwartzberg, past president and chief executive officer of City of Hope. Schwartzberg said Fineman spearheaded the creation of the auxiliary groups, which raise millions of dollars for research and patient care.
Fineman was a member of City of Hope’s hall of fame, the Gallery of Achievement.
The center recently announced it had named a street on its Duarte campus in Fineman’s honor. Fineman is the third person to receive such an honor in the center’s 90-year history.
Fineman also supported other local charities, including the National Conference of Christians and Jews (now called the National Conference for Community and Justice), from whom he received the Brotherhood Award, and the Associated In-group Donors of Southern California, which awarded him the Humanitarian Award.
Fineman is survived by his wife, Fran; sons Gary and Jay; daughters Vicki Binke, Robin Levy and Debra Dveris; three grandchildren; and his sister, Reba Malamed.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. March 8 at the House of Hope on the City of Hope campus in Duarte.
Donations in Fineman’s honor can be made to City of Hope Development Center, 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90017. —Alison A. Nieder
