Great Living Cincinnatians
Robert Westheimer
Awarded in 1996
Robert Westheimer is highly regarded as a wise investor. Currently a principal at Westheimer Enterprises, he has managed funds for Westheimer & Co.; Hayden, Stone Inc.; Harrison & Co.; and Prudential-Bache Securities.
But Westheimer, 79, also knows about investing in his community especially in programs benefitting youth. He has 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 has served as chairman of the board at ChoiceCare since its reorganization in 1989. He also chairs the boards of Cintech Tele-Management Co. and Richwood Pharmaceutical Co. He is 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."