Boca Raton Philanthropist, Countess Henrietta DeHoernle, Passes Away At 103

Countess Henrietta DeHoernle, 103, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2016.

Countess DeHoernle was born on September 24, 1912 in Karlsruhe in southwest Germany, and immigrated to live with her grandparents in Queens in 1931.

In 1950, the Countess met businessman and engineer, Adolph, Count de Hoernle, at a Liederkranz Club masquerade ball.  Soon after marrying, the couple moved to Bronxville, NY, a Westchester County suburb of New York City, where the Countess began volunteering at Lawrence Hospital’s thrift shop.

Adolph sold his company, Stewart Stamping, in 1965 and following some considerable world travel and many visits to the area, the couple retired to Boca Raton in 1981—convinced that Boca Raton was, indeed, the “Jewel of The Gold Coast”.

During her lifetime, she made major gifts to nearly 150 nonprofits in Boca Raton. From Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Lynn University, to Boca Helping Hands and the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum.

Her philanthropy tradition was much more than just Boca Raton. Back when the couple lived in New York, they volunteered at a hospital thrift shop, where they both provided music scholarships to students.

Her many friends can’t say enough about this very special lady who gave of herself for decades for the community.

Countess DeHoernle will be deeply missed by all of us here at The Boca Raton Tribune, she was one of our most avid readers, and was the first person to have a mail subscription of the paper when we began publishing in 2010.

Countess’ story would fill many pages, which a majority of would be of her times in Boca Raton where she selflessly gave her time, dedication, money, and efforts to making Boca Raton the special city that we all know and love.

Information on the memorial service will be released when more information is given.