Paul P. Bernstein

Paul P. Bernstein
Born1934 (1934)
DiedMay 23, 2026(2026-05-23) (aged 91–92)
OccupationInvestor
Known forCo-founder of Sanford C. Bernstein Company
FamilyZalman Bernstein (brother)

Paul P. Bernstein (1934 – May 23, 2026) was an American businessman and philanthropist.[1]

Biography

Bernstein was born to a Jewish family in 1934 in The Bronx, the son of Jack and Martha Bernstein, who were born and raised in Berlin.[2] His father worked in a jewelry store eventually becoming a minor partner. He went to William Howard Taft High School.[3] He had an older brother Zalman Bernstein. In 1956, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics from New York University where he was a member of the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi.[4] He joined the United States Army after school where he was assigned to Fort Dix and later Fort Benjamin Harrison where he was enrolled in a typing and shorthand school; he avoided going to Korea because he graduated first in his class.[5]

In 1957, his brother secured him a job as a broker with Dreyfus Funds.[6] In 1960, he moved to Oppenheimer Holdings after Dreyfus reduced the commissions and was able to secure a job for his brother.[6][7][8] In the 1960s, Zalman left Oppenheimer, eventually starting his own firm with two partners, and soon after hired Bernstein as a salesman.[9] The two partners left after six months for other opportunities, and the firm was renamed Sanford Bernstein. Zalman was able to convince former Oppenheimer associates, Shepard D. Osherow, Roger Hertog, Lewis A. Sanders, and Shelly Lawrence to join his firm.[10]

Sanford C. Bernstein's assets under management grew to over $80 billion from more than 25,000 private and institutional clients.[7][8] The firm was eventually sold to Alliance Capital Management[11][12][13][14] and is part of what is known as AllianceBernstein today.

Philanthropy

Bernstein was involved in charitable work of various kinds, including Seeds of Peace,[15] The Seeing Eye, and K-9 Companions. Bernstein had a role in the movie Serendipity, and produced a movie and book about Muslims who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.[16]

Personal life and death

Bernstein most recently lived in Manhattan with his wife. The couple have a daughter. His previous two marriages ended in divorce and he had a daughter Stephanie Brown (died 2004) and son David H. Bernstein.

Bernstein died on May 23, 2026, at the age of 91–92.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Stoler, Michael. "Building New York: New York Stories". CUNY TV.
  2. ↑ Stoler - minute 3:02
  3. ↑ Stoler - minute 4:10
  4. ↑ Stoler - minute 5:42
  5. ↑ Stoler - minute 7:00
  6. 1 2 Stoler - minute 10:00
  7. 1 2 "Zalman Chaim Bernstein 1926-1999" (PDF). TikvahFund.org. Tikvah Fund.
  8. 1 2 Lipman, Steve (January 15, 1999). "Sanford Bernstein's Second Life".
  9. ↑ Stoler - minute 14:00
  10. ↑ Stoler - minute 15:00
  11. ↑ Hakim, Danny (June 21, 2000). "THE MARKETS: MARKET PLACE; Alliance Capital Linking Up With Bernstein". The New York Times.
  12. ↑ "Alliance Capital to Buy Sanford C. Bernstein". Los Angeles Times. June 21, 2000.
  13. ↑ "Alliance Capital's $3.5 billion acquisition of Sanford C. Bernstein..." December 14, 2006.
  14. ↑ Molinski, Michael. "Alliance buys Sanford Bernstein for $3.5 billion". www.marketwatch.com.
  15. ↑ "US Seeds hold Thanksgiving retreat in New York at AllianceBernstein". www.seedsofpeace.org. November 28, 2009.
  16. ↑ Gershman, Norman (December 12, 2008). Besa: Muslim Who Saved Jews During World War II. ISBN 9780815609346.
  17. ↑ "PAUL BERNSTEIN Obituary (2026) - New York, NY - New York Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved August 2, 2026.