Neil Hirsch

Neil S. Hirsch (June 7, 1947 – June 24, 2021) was an American businessman and entrepreneur. In 1969, he founded Telerate, a global communications network. In addition, he was the owner of Loanet and the patron of the BlackWatch Polo Team.

Neil S. Hirsch
Hirsch in February 2005
Born(1947-06-07)June 7, 1947
St. Louis, Missouri
DiedJune 24, 2021(2021-06-24) (aged 74)
Wellington, Florida
OccupationEntrepreneur
Spouses
Parent(s)Harold Hirsch, Ida Bell Hirsch
RelativesEmmett Shear

Early life

Neil Samuel Hirsch was born on June 7, 1947, in St. Louis. His father, Harold Hirsch, was a New York-based executive for the Midwest department store chain P. N. Hirsch. Months after his birth, Hirsch's family moved to Rockville Centre, New York.

Career

At the age of 21, Hirsch dropped out of the University of Bridgeport and founded Telerate, a global communications network, where he served as president and chief executive.[1][2] In 1990, the company was sold to Dow Jones & Company for over $1.5 billion.[1]

He later founded Loanet, a securities-tracking firm, and served as its chairman.[3]

In 1999, Hirsch purchased the Player's Club Restaurant in Wellington, Florida.

In his later years, Hirsch and longtime business partner Steven Rappaport, with whom he founded RZ Capital, purchased Backstage magazine and Sonicbids in December of 2013. RZ Capital sold its share of the company in 2018.

Polo

In 1995, Hirsch co-founded the Bridgehampton Polo Club with his childhood friend Peter M. Brant.[4][5] He served as its President for many years.[6] In 2011, he sold his share to Peter Brant.

Hirsch also owned the BlackWatch Polo Team, which was sponsored by Ralph Lauren.[1][7]

Personal life

Hirsch was married briefly to Cynthia Duncan, step-granddaughter of the notable organized crime figure Meyer Lansky. In 1973, he married Caroline Hirsch, owner of Carolines on Broadway, a New York comedy club the two purchased together in 1981. They were divorced in 1986.

References
  1. Leitzes, Adam & Joshua Solan "A Pioneer's Perspective", Forbes Magazine, December 28, 2000.
  2. Reuters, "The Media: Dow Jones Makes an Offer for Remainder of Telerate", The Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1989.
  3. Stern, Jared Paul Stern "Hamptons Heat Wave: The Mile-High Club", New York Magazine; accessed September 15, 2016.
  4. Bensimon, Kelly Killoren, "My Polo – Mercedez Benz Bridgehampton Polo" Archived 2016-09-19 at the Wayback Machine, kellykillorenbensimon.com, August 17, 2010.
  5. 'They've Got Game', in New York Magazine
  6. Choire Sicha, "The Polo Crashersin", The New York Observer, July 25, 2005.
  7. Tim Padgett, "The Dead Polo Ponies and Their Millionaire Owner", Time magazine, April 23, 2009.
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