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Donald Blun Straus (June 28, 1916–September 3, 2007) was an American educator and an executive in public service. Straus, who held A.B. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University, served as president of the American Arbitration Association, executive vice president of the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York, chair of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Institute for Advanced Study. An early advocate of online education and public referendums via computers and the Web, he taught an online course in "Democracy in the 21st Century" for Connected Education in the late-1980s and early-1990s. He served as faculty associate and was a life trustee at the College of the Atlantic in Maine.

Biography

Straus was born in Middletown, New Jersey, the son of Edith (née Abraham) and Percy Selden Straus. His paternal grandparents — Ida and Isidor Straus — died on the Titanic, allowing others to take their place on the lifeboats. Isidor was a co-founder of Macy's department store in New York City, and Percy — Donald's father — was President of the landmark New York store. His maternal grandfather was retailing magnate Abraham Abraham, founder of Abraham & Straus department store.

Straus married Elizabeth Allen in 1940; they had three children: David Allen Straus, Robert Beckwith Straus, and Sara Straus Byruck. Straus died in Mount Desert, Maine.

References

1. February 1, 2001 Lecture at Loka Institute by Donald B. Straus Archived November 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine - with bio details
2. Straus Historical Society Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "Donald Blun Straus, 91, an influential leader in education, conflict resolution and population control, died peacefully Sept. 3, 2007, at his home". Bangor Daily News. September 25, 2008.
4. "Elizabeth Allen Straus, 94, died Dec. 6, 2010, in Mount Desert". Bangor Daily News. December 9, 2010.
5. "Elizabeth (Beth) Allen Straus, whose philanthropy ran the gamut from modern art and America's historic gardens, to the education, mental health and wellbeing of her New York and Mount Desert Island communities, died at age 94, on Dec.6, 2010 at her home in Somesville". The Ellsworth American. December 15, 2010.

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