Christel DeHaan
Born
Christel Stark

(1942-10-20)October 20, 1942
Nördlingen, Bavaria, Germany
DiedJune 6, 2020(2020-06-06) (aged 77)
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Occupation(s)Founder, Christel House International
Known forCo-founder and former owner, Resort Condominiums International
Spouse
Jon DeHaan
​
​
(m. 1973; div. 1987)​
Children3

Christel DeHaan (née Stark, October 20, 1942 – June 6, 2020) was a German-American businesswoman and philanthropist who was the owner of Resort Condominiums International and the founder of Christel House International.

Early life

DeHaan was born in 1942 in Nördlingen, Germany,[1] the daughter of Adolf Stark, a German soldier who died shortly before the end of World War II, and his wife Anna Stark.[2] Her stepfather, Wilhelm Riedel, died when she was 16.[2] At the age of 16, she moved to the United Kingdom to become a nanny.[1] At the ago of 20, she emigrated to the United States, settling in Indiana.[1]

Career

In 1974, DeHaan co-founded the pioneering timeshare company Resort Condominiums International, with her then-husband Jon DeHaan. In 1979, he had a heart attack, and she took over the running of the company. In 1987, they divorced; she was awarded half the company and bought the rest for $67.5 million.[3]

In 1995, she sold RCI for $825 million.[3][1]

Philanthropy

DeHaan founded and donated $220 million to Christel House International.[3] The nonprofit organization has opened schools in eight cities: Bangalore and Naya Raipur, India; Mexico City, Mexico; Cape Town, South Africa; and Indianapolis. The schools are designed to provide an education to poor children around the world. Christel House announced in July 2017 that a ninth school would open in Jamaica on August 2019.[4][5]

Personal life

In 1972, she married Jon DeHaan (b. 1940).[1] She had three children and lived in Indianapolis.[3] She died on June 6, 2020, at her home.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hawn, Carleen (November 16, 1998). "Yearning for Love". Forbes. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Michael S. Maurer (January 7, 2009). 19 Stars of Indiana: Exceptional Hoosier Women. Indiana University Press. pp. 14–25. ISBN 978-0-253-00270-9. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Forbes profile: Christel DeHaan". Forbes. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  4. ^ "How Christel DeHaan launched attack on childhood poverty". Indianapolis Star. July 12, 2010. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013.
  5. ^ Starbuck, Dane. "Christel DeHaan." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 5, edited by R. Daniel Wadhwani. German Historical Institute. Last modified March 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Philanthropist, community leader Christel DeHaan dies at 77". WTTV CBS4Indy. June 6, 2020. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.


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