Henry E Kates

Henry (Hank) Eugene Kates passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from a long illness. Born in Denver, Colorado on February 18, 1939, Hank was a significant leader in the global business community, and a warm and loving husband and father. Henry Kates graduated from The University of Colorado and served in the Air Force Reserves. He went on to enjoy a successful career in insurance and finance. Hank became one of the most successful young stars at Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company. As a result, he was offered the assignment of building the Broker- Dealer operation at Mutual Benefit located in Providence, Rhode Island. Hank moved his first wife, Lynn, (now deceased) and their young daughter, Dorianne, to Providence where they had a son, Bradley. Henry Kates spent the next several decades building the Rhode Island operation into one of the largest operations at Mutual Benefit. He eventually accepted the offer from Mutual Benefit to transfer to Corporate Headquarters in Newark, New Jersey soon thereafter becoming CEO. Hank sat on 13 corporate boards. A patron of the arts, Henry sat on several not-for-profit boards including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Museum of Art and Design and the Rhode Island School of Design. While sitting on the board of the Rhode Island School of Design, Hank met Dale Chihuly, and helped launch his career by becoming one of the largest collectors of his glass sculpture. Hank also amassed the largest privately-owned collection of the Rhode Island artist, Maxwell Mays. He was one of the original investors and responsible for bringing Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Aspects of Love to Broadway. His work on the Board of Carnegie Hall led to his meeting his current wife, Pamela Newman Kates. They married in 1994. Hank enjoyed being the devoted step-father to Romy Newman Cosmaciuc and Theodore Ross Newman. Hank transformed downtown Providence, Rhode Island by significantly improving several office buildings. He developed Fisher Island (near Miami, Florida) into the $4B property it is today. Hank also evolved and improved Admirals Cove (near Jupiter, Florida) and much of Newport, RI. Real estate evolution, urban planning and infrastructure were his passions. He created and managed several restaurants in Providence, Newport and Miami and became Chairman of the Cherrystone Angel Group in Rhode Island. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Newman Kates, his daughter, Dorianne DeFeo and her husband, Ron; his son, Brad Kates and his wife Shannon. He is also survived by his step-children, Romy Cosmaciuc and her husband, Bogdan; and Theodore Newman and his fiancee, Mary. His six grandchildren and two step-grandchildren: Britt, Addie, Georgianne, Claiborne, Hunter, Clyde, Zachary and Gabrielle.