de Hoernle
Drive around Palm Beach County, especially Boca Raton, and it’ll be hard not to see a building bearing the name of Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle. The Red Cross, YMCA, Museum of Art and The Railway Station are all examples of the de Hoernles’ generosity.
Since 1981 when the couple — German immigrants who, as the patriotic countess says, became “Americans by choice” — arrived in Boca Raton, they have made substantial gifts to many organizations.
After her husband died in 1998, the countess continued her charitable work, donating more than $40 million to charities and serving on the boards of 16 organizations.
de Hoernle, who turns 100 on Sept. 24, is still inundated with stacks of requests for monetary help and does her best to help when she can. But this month it is Boca Raton’s turn to lavish some love on the countess. Her birthday wish is to raise money for Boca Raton-area nonprofits. That wish will be granted via a formal benefit gala at Boca West Country Club on her birthday.
Other events include a communitywide “Red, White & Boca-Blue Countess Appreciation Day,” and the presentation of a giant birthday card with thousands of signatures from people whose lives have been touched by the de Hoernles’ kindness.
In honor of her birthday, she agreed to a Q&A with The Coastal Star.
— Mary Thurwachter
At her 99th birthday celebration, de Hoernle was surrounded by children at the YMCA.
Q.What’s your secret to a long and happy life?
A.Vitamins. I take about 20 every day. I drink socially. I like chocolate and I play bridge about four times a week.
The couple in their younger years.
Q.What early memory in your life made a deep impression on you?
A.While volunteering at a hospital as a young woman, I marveled at buildings that carried the names of people who gave money for people they didn’t know. I wanted to do the same one day. I felt it was my obligation.
Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle announce
plans to restore the FEC Railway Station.
Q. Do you still get many requests for donations and how do you handle them?
A. I’ve been at this for 25 years and served on 16 boards. There are always requests and it’s hard to keep up. I say “yes” only when there is no other way.
Q.Is there something you haven’t done, somewhere you’d like to go, that you haven’t been able to do yet?
A.I’ve been on over 100 cruises and traveled around the world, but I’ve never been on a river cruise. I would like to do that. I would also like to go to China again. But I don’t travel anymore.
Countess de Hoernle receives an honorary
degree from Lynn University in Boca Raton. Photos provided
Q. What kinds of books do you like to read?
A. Mostly romance books, especially if they are set in England or have a connection to Christmas.
Countess de Hoernle attends an event to build the
Caldwell Theatre’s auditorium, which later was
named for her husband.
Q. Who was the great love of your life?
A. I never liked German men. They were too domineering. It so happened I married three of them. My second husband was my big love. He loved me so much, maybe too much. But the last one [Count Adolph de Hoernle, who made his fortune manufacturing stamped metal products] was the best of all. We were together for 48 years. He let me do what I wanted to do.
Q. Did he always agree with your philanthropic choices?
A. When I wanted to help restore the (1930 Florida East Coast) Railway Station, he didn’t like the idea. He said he could build a new one for less money, which he could, of course. But it wasn’t about that. It was about preservation. So I did it and gave it (The Count de Hoernle Pavilion) as a present for his birthday.
Q. Are you dating anyone now?
A. No. Companionship is nice, but I’m glad to be by myself now. I like my privacy. I live in assisted living and there are only nice people here.
Q. What event have you attended that stands out most in your memory?
A. Princess Diana’s wedding. It was a highlight of my life.
Q. What’s your favorite TV show?
A. The Good Wife. Other than that, I watch a lot of news.
Q. What does someone give a countess for her birthday? What do you like? Birthday cake?
A. I’m not really fond of cake, but I like shortcake and I love Hoffman’s chocolate-covered ginger and chocolate-covered coconut. I like Kahlua, too.
Adolph and Henrietta de Hoernle share a lighthearted moment in earlier times.
Countess birthday events
Through Sept. 7: Community birthday card initiative. In preparation for the gala event, the community is invited and encouraged to sign birthday card panels that will be on display at locations throughout the city. The panels will be assembled as one card for its debut at the gala event celebration on Sept. 24.
Sept. 22: VIP Reception (by invitation only). Gala benefactors are invited to a VIP reception hosted by Countess de Hoernle at Boca West Country Club.
Sept. 24: A Red, White & Boca Blue day-long celebration. The community is encouraged to pay visual tribute to the Countess for her patriotism for the United States, her ‘country by choice,’ by wearing red, white, and blue and wrapping trees with red, white, and blue ribbons.
Sept. 24: Benefit Gala. The “Our Legend, Her Legacy”-themed benefit gala begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. at Boca West Country Club. More than 700 dignitaries and community, business, and nonprofit leaders will don black or white tie, military or Scottish equivalent, tiaras, regalia, and decorations. Dinner, music, multimedia tributes, reminiscing, a video retrospective, and presentation of a gigantic birthday card are planned as a benefit to fulfill the Countess’s 100th birthday wish: to raise significant funds to benefit Boca Raton area nonprofits. Individual seats are $375 See www.countess100.org.
Buildings named for the Count & Countess de Hoernle
Boca Raton Children’s Museum
Rickards House upper floor
Acts Retirement Life Community
Hurricane shelter
American Red Cross
Service center
ARC of PBC
Lobby
Boca Ballet Theatre Company
Center of dance
Boca Raton Community Hospital
Cardiac floor
Boca Raton Historical Society
Pavilion (train depot)
Memorial room
Boca Raton Museum of Art
Great hall
Art school for children
Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
New building
Boys Towns of Italy (in Rome)
International Center
Caldwell Theatre Company
New theater
Caridad Migrant Center
Health clinic
Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park
Amphitheater
Children’s Home Society
Building in West Palm Beach
Count & Countess de Hoernle Pavilion
Alzheimer’s pavilion
Debbi-Rand Memorial Service League
Pavilion (Thrift Shop)
Food for the Poor
Two homes in Haiti
Gulfstream Council, Boys Scouts of America
Headquarters service center
Habilitation Center for the Handicapped
Workshop
Garden center
The Haven
Meeting hall
Two cottages
HomeSafe
Two cottages
Hospice by the Sea
Lobby
Junior League of Boca Raton
Building
Lynn University
Sports & Cultural Center
International building
Lecture hall
Two dorms
Mae Volen Senior Center
Lobby
Dining hall
Northwood University
Student Life Center
Palm Beach State College,
Lake Worth
Humanities & Technology
Building
Student center
South Florida Blood Bank
Pavilion
Campus
Spanish River High School
Theatre
St. Joan of Arc Parish
Cornerstone
Lobby
St. Jude
Gathering place
United Way of Palm Beach County
Boynton Beach campus
Wayne Barton Study Center
Study center
YMCA of Boca Raton
Youth center
Youth activity center
Activity center
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