Sir Arthur Hoermann Spitzer

Arthur Hoermann Spitzer was the only child of Arthur Joseph Spitzer and Selma Hoermann Spitzer, born January 28, 1917 in Honolulu. He received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in 1937 and obtained a law degree from Harvard Law School.

Photo from Harvard Law School Yearbook, 1940
Arthur H. Spitzer's second year

Arthur H. Spitzer married Blanche Helen Van Oort in the late 1940's. She graduated from Mount St. Mary's University in Los Angeles and worked as a chemist for the Pineapple Research Institute. She also held the position of president of two companies, Blaisdell, Inc. and Mahele Corporation. Neal S. Blaisdell, who was part-Hawaiian, was a mayor of Honolulu from 1955 to 1969. On the 1940 census he was the director of athletics at a pineapple cannery. As mayor, he oversaw one of the largest construction booms in the City and County of Honolulu. He oversaw the construction of the Wilson Tunnels and the Honolulu International Center, which was renamed the Neal S. Blaisdell Center after his death. This community center includes a sports arena, concert hall, gallery, exhibition hall, and conference rooms. Neal Blaisdell and/or one of his four brothers was connected to Blaisdell, Inc.

Although Blanch Helen Van Oort was born in Los Angeles (on September 28, 1924), her parents were born in the Netherlands. Her father, Jozef Van Oort, came to Honolulu to work for the U.S. Army as its chief architect. Perhaps because of Arthur H. Spitzer's ties through his wife's family, he became the consul for the Netherlands in Honolulu in 1952 and received the honor of Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau in 1963.

As noted in the above article Arthur H. Spitzer served in the U.S. Navy as a captain during World War II. He served from December 17, 1941 to March 17, 1946.

Arthur H. and Blanche Spitzer were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters. Arthur H. Spitzer died on July 21, 1976, and his wife died on February 27, 2006. They are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu.

Obituary of Blanche Spitzer without personal family information.

References:

Netherlands Knights Spitzer, Honolulu Advertiser, 4/30/63, p. B1, courtesty of the Library of Hawaii.

Obituary of Blanche Helen Spitzer, Honolulu Advertiser, March 6, 2006, page B2.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, BIRLS Death File, Ancestry.com, 2011.

U.S. School Yearbooks, Ancestry.com, 2010.

U.S. Veterans Gravesites, National Cemetery Administration, Ancestry.com, 2006.