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Helen Galland

Born
June 1, 1925
Died
September 1, 2008
Age
83 years
Nationality
United States
Cause
heart attack

About Helen Galland

Helen Galland, 83, American retail executive, president of Bonwit Teller (1980–1983), heart attack.

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Full Biography

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Helen Galland (June 1, 1925 – September 1, 2008) was an American retail executive and businesswoman who served as president of Bonwit Teller from 1980 to 1983. The New York Times described her as "one of the few women of her time to run a fashion-oriented retailer". She was also the first woman to serve on the board of the Whitman Corporation.

Early life

Galland was born in Brooklyn, New York, an only child, and grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan. She earned a degree in psychology from Hunter College.

Career

In 1945, while taking graduate classes in retailing at New York University, she took a position at Lord & Taylor. After five years, she went to Bonwit Teller as a millinery buyer. When she left Bonwit Teller in 1975 to become President of Wamsutta Trucraft Home Fashions, she had risen to senior vice president and general merchandise manager. She returned to Bonwit Teller five years later in 1980 as President/CEO. Galland presided from 1980 to 1983, a time when the company's brand had undergone a decline. The company was acquired in 1979 by Allied Stores Corporation, which closed Bonwit-Teller’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Galland oversaw the opening of a new Bonwit store, a third the size, in the Trump Tower.

She eventually left Bonwit Teller again to form her own eponymous marketing/consulting firm, Helen Galland Associates. Bonwit Teller and all its remaining stores closed for good in 1990.

Affiliations

She served on the boards of Hunter College and the Fashion Institute of Technology as well as several charities.

Family

Helen Galland's first husband, Samuel Frishberg, a lawyer, died in 1964. She married Frederick E. Loewus, a handbag manufacturer, in 1967; he died in 2006. She had a son David Frishberg of VA, two daughters, Susan Frishberg of VT, Judy Frishberg of Jackson New Jersey and two stepchildren, all of whom survived her.[citation needed]

David Frishberg said of his mother: "She was the kind of woman who could follow you into a revolving door and come out in front of you".

Death

Galland died of a heart attack at a Manhattan restaurant, aged 83.

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16 Verified Trivia Questions About Helen Galland

Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Helen Galland's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.

  1. 1.Which educational institution's board did Helen Galland serve on?

    • A.New York University
    • B.Brooklyn College
    • C.Washington Heights University
    • D.Hunter CollegeCorrect

    She served on the boards of Hunter College and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

    Source: Affiliations section

  2. 2.What was the profession of Helen Galland's second husband, Frederick E. Loewus?

    • A.Marketing consultant
    • B.Retail executive
    • C.Lawyer
    • D.Handbag manufacturerCorrect

    Helen Galland married Frederick E. Loewus, a handbag manufacturer, in 1967.

    Source: Family section

  3. 3.In what year did Helen Galland's first husband, Samuel Frishberg, pass away?

    • A.1979
    • B.1964Correct
    • C.1967
    • D.1975

    Helen Galland's first husband, Samuel Frishberg, a lawyer, died in 1964.

    Source: Family section

  4. 4.What was the cause of Helen Galland's death?

    • A.An illness
    • B.A traffic accident
    • C.Natural causes
    • D.Heart attackCorrect

    Galland died of a heart attack at a Manhattan restaurant, aged 83.

    Source: Death section

  5. 5.How old was Helen Galland when she died?

    • A.83Correct
    • B.81
    • C.82
    • D.80

    Galland died of a heart attack at a Manhattan restaurant, aged 83.

    Source: Death section

  6. 6.How did David Frishberg describe his mother's personality?

    • A.She was a quiet and private person
    • B.She could follow you into a revolving door and come out in front of youCorrect
    • C.She was a stern leader in the fashion industry
    • D.She was a dedicated charitable donor

    David Frishberg said of his mother: She was the kind of woman who could follow you into a revolving door and come out in front of you.

    Source: Family section

  7. 7.When did the remaining Bonwit Teller stores finally close?

    • A.2008
    • B.1983
    • C.2006
    • D.1990Correct

    Bonwit Teller and all its remaining stores closed for good in 1990.

    Source: Career section

  8. 8.In which city was Helen Galland born?

    • A.Manhattan
    • B.Jackson
    • C.BrooklynCorrect
    • D.Washington Heights

    Helen Galland was born in Brooklyn, New York.

    Source: Early life section

  9. 9.What degree did Helen Galland earn from Hunter College?

    • A.Marketing
    • B.Retailing
    • C.PsychologyCorrect
    • D.Business Administration

    Helen Galland earned a degree in psychology from Hunter College.

    Source: Early life section

  10. 10.Where did Helen Galland start her retail career in 1945?

    • A.Lord & TaylorCorrect
    • B.Trump Tower
    • C.Bonwit Teller
    • D.Wamsutta Trucraft

    In 1945, while taking graduate classes at New York University, she took a position at Lord & Taylor.

    Source: Career section

  11. 11.What position did Helen Galland hold at Bonwit Teller before leaving in 1975?

    • A.President
    • B.Millinery buyer
    • C.Senior vice president and general merchandise managerCorrect
    • D.CEO

    When she left Bonwit Teller in 1975, she had risen to senior vice president and general merchandise manager.

    Source: Career section

  12. 12.Between 1975 and 1980, what company did Helen Galland serve as president of?

    • A.Allied Stores Corporation
    • B.Helen Galland Associates
    • C.Wamsutta Trucraft Home FashionsCorrect
    • D.Whitman Corporation

    She left Bonwit Teller in 1975 to become President of Wamsutta Trucraft Home Fashions.

    Source: Career section

  13. 13.Helen Galland was the first woman to serve on the board of which corporation?

    • A.Whitman CorporationCorrect
    • B.Allied Stores Corporation
    • C.Trump Tower
    • D.Bonwit Teller

    Helen Galland was the first woman to serve on the board of the Whitman Corporation.

    Source: Introduction

  14. 14.Which company acquired Bonwit Teller in 1979?

    • A.Allied Stores CorporationCorrect
    • B.Trump Organization
    • C.Helen Galland Associates
    • D.Whitman Corporation

    The company was acquired in 1979 by Allied Stores Corporation.

    Source: Career section

  15. 15.What specific action did Helen Galland take regarding a new Bonwit store location?

    • A.Oversaw the opening in Trump TowerCorrect
    • B.Closed the Fifth Avenue flagship store
    • C.Merged it with Wamsutta Trucraft
    • D.Formed an eponymous consulting firm

    Galland oversaw the opening of a new Bonwit store in the Trump Tower.

    Source: Career section

  16. 16.What was the name of the firm Helen Galland formed after leaving Bonwit Teller?

    • A.Retail Executive Group
    • B.Galland Retail Consulting
    • C.Frishberg Marketing
    • D.Helen Galland AssociatesCorrect

    She eventually left Bonwit Teller again to form her own eponymous marketing/consulting firm, Helen Galland Associates.

    Source: Career section

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