A courtyard created at the School of Management (SOM) in memory of Yale alumnus Henry Ford II '40 was dedicated in a ceremony held on May 20 and attended by his three children.
The Henry Ford II Court was made possible through a grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund in honor of the former leader of the Ford Motor Company and a major Yale benefactor. The courtyard, located in the front of the SOM complex on Hillhouse Avenue, was designed by Peter de Bretteville, a critic in architectural design at the School of Architecture.
Since SOM's founding in 1976, Henry Ford II -- grandson of the founder of the Ford Motor Company -- and the Henry Ford Fund have been generous supporters of the school's endeavors. In addition, for many years the Ford Motor Company Fund has been a major donor to Yale, giving more than $1.2 million. Henry Ford II was president of Ford Motor Company 1945-60 and was its chair 1960-80. In 1972, the University awarded Ford an honorary Doctor of Law degree for his commitment to minority employment and for creating minority dealer and supplier development programs at his company. He died in 1987.
President Richard C. Levin and SOM Dean Jeffrey E. Garten presented
comments at the dedication ceremony. Remarks were offered by Ford's three
children, Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the board of directors of Ford
Motor Company and a philanthropist; Anne Ford, chair of the board of the
National Center for Learning Disabilities; and Charlotte Ford, author of
best-selling books on etiquette, who is also active in philanthropic and
community service work.
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