Christel DeHaan | |
---|---|
Born | Christel Stark October 20, 1942 |
Died | June 6, 2020
Indianapolis, Indiana, US | (aged 77)
Occupation(s) | Founder, Christel House International |
Known for | Co-founder and former owner, Resort Condominiums International |
Spouse |
Jon DeHaan
(
m. 1973;
div. 1987) |
Children | 3 |
Christel DeHaan ( née Stark, October 20, 1942 – June 6, 2020) was a German-American businesswoman and philanthropist who was the owner of Resort Condominiums International and the founder of Christel House International.
DeHaan was born in 1942 in Nördlingen, Germany, [1] the daughter of Adolf Stark, a German soldier who died shortly before the end of World War II, and his wife Anna Stark. [2] Her stepfather, Wilhelm Riedel, died when she was 16. [2] At the age of 16, she moved to the United Kingdom to become a nanny. [1] At the ago of 20, she emigrated to the United States, settling in Indiana. [1]
In 1974, DeHaan co-founded the pioneering timeshare company Resort Condominiums International, with her then-husband Jon DeHaan. In 1979, he had a heart attack, and she took over the running of the company. In 1987, they divorced; she was awarded half the company and bought the rest for $67.5 million. [3]
In 1995, she sold RCI for $825 million. [3] [1]
DeHaan founded and donated $220 million to Christel House International. [3] The nonprofit organization has opened schools in eight cities: Bangalore and Naya Raipur, India; Mexico City, Mexico; Cape Town, South Africa; and Indianapolis. The schools are designed to provide an education to poor children around the world. Christel House announced in July 2017 that a ninth school would open in Jamaica on August 2019. [4] [5]
In 1972, she married Jon DeHaan (b. 1940). [1] She had three children and lived in Indianapolis. [3] She died on June 6, 2020, at her home. [6]
Christel DeHaan | |
---|---|
Born | Christel Stark October 20, 1942 |
Died | June 6, 2020
Indianapolis, Indiana, US | (aged 77)
Occupation(s) | Founder, Christel House International |
Known for | Co-founder and former owner, Resort Condominiums International |
Spouse |
Jon DeHaan
(
m. 1973;
div. 1987) |
Children | 3 |
Christel DeHaan ( née Stark, October 20, 1942 – June 6, 2020) was a German-American businesswoman and philanthropist who was the owner of Resort Condominiums International and the founder of Christel House International.
DeHaan was born in 1942 in Nördlingen, Germany, [1] the daughter of Adolf Stark, a German soldier who died shortly before the end of World War II, and his wife Anna Stark. [2] Her stepfather, Wilhelm Riedel, died when she was 16. [2] At the age of 16, she moved to the United Kingdom to become a nanny. [1] At the ago of 20, she emigrated to the United States, settling in Indiana. [1]
In 1974, DeHaan co-founded the pioneering timeshare company Resort Condominiums International, with her then-husband Jon DeHaan. In 1979, he had a heart attack, and she took over the running of the company. In 1987, they divorced; she was awarded half the company and bought the rest for $67.5 million. [3]
In 1995, she sold RCI for $825 million. [3] [1]
DeHaan founded and donated $220 million to Christel House International. [3] The nonprofit organization has opened schools in eight cities: Bangalore and Naya Raipur, India; Mexico City, Mexico; Cape Town, South Africa; and Indianapolis. The schools are designed to provide an education to poor children around the world. Christel House announced in July 2017 that a ninth school would open in Jamaica on August 2019. [4] [5]
In 1972, she married Jon DeHaan (b. 1940). [1] She had three children and lived in Indianapolis. [3] She died on June 6, 2020, at her home. [6]