Christel DeHaan

Christel DeHaan (née Stark, October 20, 1942 – June 6, 2020) was a German-American businesswoman and philanthropist who was the owner of Resort Condominiums International and the founder of Christel House International.

Christel DeHaan
Born	Christel Stark (1942-10-20)October 20, 1942 Nördlingen, Bavaria, Germany
Died	June 6, 2020(2020-06-06) (aged 77) Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Occupation(s)	Founder, Christel House International
Known for	Co-founder and former owner, Resort Condominiums International
Spouse	Jon DeHaan ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1987)​
Children	3

Early life

DeHaan was born in 1942 in Nördlingen, Germany,^[1] the daughter of Adolf Stark, a German soldier who died shortly before the end of World War II, and his wife Anna Stark.^[2] Her stepfather, Wilhelm Riedel, died when she was 16.^[2] At the age of 16, she moved to the United Kingdom to become a nanny.^[1] At the ago of 20, she emigrated to the United States, settling in Indiana.^[1]

Career

In 1974, DeHaan co-founded the pioneering timeshare company Resort Condominiums International, with her then-husband Jon DeHaan. In 1979, he had a heart attack, and she took over the running of the company. In 1987, they divorced; she was awarded half the company and bought the rest for $67.5 million.^[3]

In 1995, she sold RCI for $825 million.^[3][1]

Philanthropy

DeHaan founded and donated $220 million to Christel House International.^[3] The nonprofit organization has opened schools in eight cities: Bangalore and Naya Raipur, India; Mexico City, Mexico; Cape Town, South Africa; and Indianapolis. The schools are designed to provide an education to poor children around the world. Christel House announced in July 2017 that a ninth school would open in Jamaica in August 2019.^[4][5]

Personal life

In 1972, she married Jon DeHaan (b. 1940).^[1] She had three children and lived in Indianapolis.^[3] She died on June 6, 2020, at her home.^[6]

References

1. Hawn, Carleen (November 16, 1998). "Yearning for Love". Forbes. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
2. Michael S. Maurer (January 7, 2009). 19 Stars of Indiana: Exceptional Hoosier Women. Indiana University Press. pp. 14–25. ISBN 978-0-253-00270-9. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
3. "Forbes profile: Christel DeHaan". Forbes. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
4. "How Christel DeHaan launched attack on childhood poverty". Indianapolis Star. July 12, 2010. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013.
5. Starbuck, Dane. "Christel DeHaan." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 5, edited by R. Daniel Wadhwani. German Historical Institute. Last modified March 24, 2014.
6. "Philanthropist, community leader Christel DeHaan dies at 77". WTTV CBS4Indy. June 6, 2020. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.