Mr. Jake Kamin

JAKE KAMIN, philanthropist, visionary, business leader, and most importantly a man of dignity and integrity, passed away peacefully at his home in Houston on Saturday evening, at the age of 94. He was born in Galveston, Texas in January, 1916, one of seven children.

Jake Kamin touched so many lives in so many ways over the course of his lifetime. He was a child of the Great Depression which was instrumental in creating his work ethic. Starting in the retail furniture business, Jake saw the potential growth of Houston in the 1950’s and with a group of like-minded visionaries developed Nassau Bay in Clear Lake to support the development of NASA. There he also founded Nassau Bay National Bank. The success of these projects led to the development of Sugar Creek in Sugar Land, Texas, anticipating the potential of this area before the Southwest Freeway even reached Fort Bend County. Jake then founded Sugar Creek National Bank to service that community. Jake Kamin was also the founder and Chairman of American Mortgage Co. He served on numerous corporate Boards of Directors and Chambers of Commerce. Most notably he was the only three term Chairman of the Advisory Board of Directors of Fannie Mae. Mr. Kamin was also one of the founders of Houston Baptist University and supported many charitable programs in the medical field.

There were three men that had a significant influence on Jake’s life and business career: Congressman Albert Thomas, banker John Whitmore and attorney David Searls. Notable among his business associates were Dan Arnold, Sanford Weiner, and his devoted and loyal executive assistant, Dulane Bourdeau.

Mr. Kamin was predeceased by his parents Israel and Bluma Kamin, his brothers and their wives, Lester and Hortense Kamin, Morris and Carolyn Kamin, his sisters and their husbands, Bessie and Aaron Goodman, Marion and Allan Kaplan, and sister-in-law Ethel Gaitz Kamin. He was also preceded in death by his two daughters Karen Armer and Linda Chapman Golden.

He is lovingly survived by his wife, Nina, with whom he shared a wonderful life of 39 years. He is also survived by the following: son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Maria Chapman; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Alec Smith; brothers Sam and Margie Kamin, Max “Babe” and Dawn Kamin; grandchildren, Lisa and Matt Dudley, Kristen Thelander, Gunnar Thelander, Adam Smith, Cindy Armer, Lauren Smith, Nathan Chapman and Jeremy Chapman; great-grandchildren Caleb and Jacob Dudley. Jake is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.

The family would like to thank Drs. Bobby Alford, Albert Raizner, Christopher Wood, Susan Miller, Rachelle Doody, William Spencer and Scott Lloyd for the years of extraordinary care that contributed to his long and productive life.

His family would also like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Maria DeLeon, Gloria Castillo, and Albert Walker. Special thanks must be given to the dedication and compassion of Ken Hall and of caregivers Nette Baker, Lucy Graves, Annie Hutchison, and Delinda Dee Walker.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 18th of August, in the main sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, where Rabbi David Lyon and Cantor Robert Gerber are to officiate.

Immediately following the service, all are invited to join the family for a reception in the adjacent Social Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, the family suggests with gratitude that contributions in Jake’s memory be directed to the Linda Chapman Golden Fund for Multiple Myeloma, c/o Kristi Cooper, Office of Institutional Advancement, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS:BCM 160, Houston, TX, 77030-3498; Congregation Beth Israel Building Fund, 5600 N. Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX, 77096; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030-2008.