Stroum Philanthropy Legacy

Proctor Landing Tudor on the left and Harmony on the right

Marsha Stroum Sloan and Jay Glazer’s Mercer Island waterfront family compound (Lake Washington 130 Homes page 58), “Harmony,” is for sale for $26.9 million (3/20/11 post). It is next to the landmark “Proctor Landing Tudor” that sold in 2009 for $15.7 million (2/16/10 post). Marsha is the daughter of the late Sam and Althea Stroum. Her sister is Cynthia Stroum (3/21/11 post). Sam and Althea Stroum were prominent area philanthropists. Sam and Marsha’s former husband, Stuart Sloan (page 34, LW 130 Homes), were former co-owners of Schuck’s Auto Supply. Marsha and Jay have moved to Santa Barbara where there is a new Stroum family compound.

Marsha’s and Cynthia’s mother, Althea, recently (March 14, 2011) passed away (Seattle Times obituary) and their father, Sam, passed away March 9, 2001 (Seattle Times editorial). The Stroum name is on many prominent arts, medical, education and community buildings and halls in the Seattle area. Benaroya Hall, University of Washington, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and the Stroum Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattle on Mercer Island are most notable. In 1991 the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle established the Althea Stroum Woman of Distinction Award.

Obama Stroum Connection

A February 4, 2011, a Seattle Times and Associated Press article reported “Big Obama donor Cynthia Stroum quits envoy job [America's ambassador to Luxembourg] amid criticism.” The article starts: “As a supporter of presidential candidate Barack Obama, Cynthia Stroum was a superstar whose financial backing of the campaign landed her a plum diplomatic posting in Europe.” The article reported she was a “disaster . . . management . . . was abysmal . . . fraught with personality conflicts, verbal abuse and questionable expenditures on travel, wine and liquor.” The article strongly implies her appointment was a political reward.

The Puget Sound Business Journal reported on February 7, 2011, Cynthia had filed a rebuttal to the State Department report. She told the Associated Press she did not know whether she could release details of the rebuttal publicly.

The Stroum family has generously contributed to Democratic candidates. Cynthia donated the maximum personal amount to Obama's campaign and previously donated $2,300 to former Sen. John Edwards’ presidential campaign. She was one of the top Obama fund raisers, being responsible for raising at least $500,000 for the 2008 campaign. Some of the fund raisers were held at the Mercer Island compound (Lake Washington 130 Homes page 58) of Cynthia’s sister, Marsha Stroum Sloan Glazer. The compound is listed for sale for $26.9 million (3/20/11 post).

Glazer-Stroum MI Family Compound For Sale - $26.9 Million

Glazer-Stroum MI Family Compound

From Windermere’s MLS listing:

"Resting gently on 2.93 acres, Harmony commands an extraordinary 324 feet of Lake Washington waterfront and sets its vista on the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier . . . Waves roll gently up on the beach as the sun shines down on two private docks. . . over 14,000 square feet . . living wing plays host to the grotto, saline pool and exercise areas. Upstairs two guest suites each with their own bath and walk-in closets . . . private outdoor spa . . . A world like no other."

Marsha Stroum Sloan Glazer purchased the waterfront home on one acre in 1992 for an undisclosed amount from Bruce Leven, a famous race car driver and former owner of numerous Seattle area car dealerships. The compound now includes an additional four parcels acquired from 2001 to 2005.

Martha, as part of the Stroum family legacy, is a prominent philanthropist and theater patron. She supports numerous causes financially and, as a board member and trustee of many organizations, has hosted fund raisers in this beautiful compound of 14,660 sq ft on 2.9 acres with 324 feet of waterfront. More information is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on page 58.

Mastro and Russo Top The 2010 Most Expensive Home Sales

 Michael Mastro’s Former Medina Mansion

Ray Russo’s Former Hunts Point Mansion

Estately.com has a cool web site and published “The 10 most expensive homes sold in King County, Washington in 2010.”

Russo’s Hunts Point mansion, $11.3 million sale, (posted here 5/13/10) was number one on the list. Mastro’s Medina mansion, $9.1 million sale, (posted here 11/10/10) was number two on the list. Number ten on the list was a Yarrow Point mansion which sold for $5.7 million. Five out of the ten were Lake Washington waterfront homes, which are covered by this blog and were in Lake Washington 130 Homes. Three were in Seattle’s new high rise condo buildings.

Liddell’s Medina Mansion – Resigns From GM

This home is owned by Christopher P. and Patricia Liddell. Christopher, born in New Zealand, had been with Microsoft as Senior Vice President and CFO from 2005 to 2009. He came to Microsoft from International Paper where he was Sr. VP & CFO. He left Microsoft in December 2009 and moved in 2010 to Detroit to take the CFO position with GM. His base starting salary with GM was $750,000 per year and it was publicized he could get up to $5.45 million in stock. (Go to Seattle Times December 24, 2009, article.) The Medina home was listed for sale at $8.8 million in May 2009 but did not sell.

The national press and the Seattle Times announced on March 10, 2011, Chris was resigning from GM after being passed up for the top job. He had been recognized as doing an outstanding job as GM’s CFO.

The estate has 7,365 sq ft on 0.63 acres with 134 feet of waterfront, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. It is near the tip of Evergreen Point, facing west and about 120 yards north of Michael Mastro’s former mansion. The Liddells purchased the mansion in 2005 for $7 million. This home features a prime view, lush landscaping with a brook and pond, a large game room with a second kitchen, and two docks. More information is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on page 127.

Hunts Point Olson Mansion For Sale - $14.1 Million

Rodney D. and Janice Olson have their Hunts Point mansion (LW 130 Homes page 136), named “The Bellisima,” listed for sale for $14.1 million. (Bellisima is Italian for “very beautiful” and was the name of a popular Venezuelan 1990s TV series.) Rodney and three partners founded Seattle-based WestCoast Hotels 1988 with the purchase of three Seattle Hotels, the Camlin, Roosevelt and the Vance. WestCoast grew to 19 hotels in 1999 and was acquired by Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corporation. The estate has 9,675 sq ft on 1.07 acres with 80 feet of waterfront, 4 bedrooms and 5 baths.

From the listing by Tere Foster and Becky Gray, Windermere: The Bellisima on Hunts Point. A grand interpretation of a Mediterranean classic characterized by distinctive quality and design. The carefully curate details have been applied individually preserving the character of the estate and carriage house. A tribute to highly sophisticated taste. A complexity & warmth that is seldom seen together. The nobility & beauty of fine materials. Graceful lines, sensitivity to proportion, a waterfront masterpiece. An extraordinary home. Exclusively Hunts Point.