The Aspen Institute mourns the passing of Leonard A. Lauder, who died on June 14 at the age of 92. As Chairman Emeritus of Estée Lauder, Mr. Lauder transformed the company over six decades of leadership into a multi-branded and beloved global icon. In addition to his leadership in the cosmetics industry, Mr. Lauder was a celebrated philanthropist and a dedicated supporter of education and the arts.

At the Aspen Institute, Mr. Lauder was a member of the Board of Trustees, having served on the board since 1980, including a period as Interim Chair of the Board. Alongside other members of the Lauder family, including his son Gary and daughter-in-law Laura Lauder (a current trustee of the Aspen Institute), he provided indispensable guidance and support to the Aspen Institute and its network of International Partners and Affiliates, which he played a key role in developing. Mr. Lauder was also a generous supporter of the Aspen Meadows campus, where the Aspen Institute was founded, making significant contributions to many of the buildings that make up the campus.

Acknowledging Mr. Lauder’s passing, Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield said, “Leonard Lauder was a giant in business and so much more. For decades he served as a generous and highly influential leader on the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees and as the guiding light for the development of our network of 13 Aspen Institutes in countries around the world. Our entire community reveres his leadership and, today, joins his family in mourning.”

Chair of the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees Margot Pritzker remarked, “In many ways Leonard was the heart of the Institute, recognizing the critical importance of the Executive Seminar in bringing people of diverse backgrounds together over text and dialogue to build understanding, both with generous resources and a resounding voice that everyone in our global community experienced. He was a wise man and will be sorely missed.”

Aspen Institute Executive Vice President Elliot Gerson remarked, “Leonard’s devotion and dedication to the Aspen Institute was singular and extraordinary, as will be his legacy. While it was my privilege for two decades to work closely with him on his many passions across the Institute, the Socrates Program notably among them, I would like to highlight his unparalleled contributions to our family of Aspen Institutes and Initiatives around the world. Every one of our International Partners and Affiliates, now on every continent – from Germany born a half century ago, to our youngest in Colombia just two years old – has benefitted from Leonard’s deep personal engagement, wisdom, vision and generosity. Apart from our Founder, no one could be higher in the Aspen Institute pantheon.”

President of Ancora Associates, Inc. and Aspen Institute Trustee Clare Muñana remarked, “In the constellation of all those he touched around the world, Leonard held our Aspen International Partners particularly close. His extraordinary vision, leadership and generosity anchored our international family. His consistent, personal commitment reflected a deep and abiding care for each of our partners and Aspen’s mission globally. We will carry his values and his voice with us always.”

The Aspen Institute extends its deepest sympathies to Mr. Lauder’s family, and all those who loved him. For more on Mr. Lauder’s remarkable American life, see this statement released by the Estée Lauder Companies.