Herbert Hayman Lank

   Cause of his death was heart failure.

  General Notes:

Mr. Herbert H. Lank of Montreal, the President of Du Pont Company of Canada Limited: "Mr. Lank is an international figure. Born in Seaford, Delaware, he was educated at the University of Delaware, and at three Universities in France. After joining E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. in New Jersey in 1925, he was transferred to that company's affiliated organization in France. Returning to the United States in 1928 he was appointed assistant export sales manager of Du Pont Finishes Division. Three years later Mr. Lank was sent to Argentina by the Du Pont Company and became the commercial director of its Argentine organization. In 1942 Mr. Lank came to Canada from Argentina as a special assistant to the president of Canadian Industries Limited, in which the Du Pont Company held a 42% interest. He was appointed vice-president in the following year and a director in 1949. When C.I.L. was divided into two new companies on July 1, 1954, Mr. Lank became President of Du Pont Company of Canada Limited. Outside his own business, Mr. Lank is well known for his work in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He has served as its chairman, is still a member of its executive council, and is a vice-president and director of the Canadian Council of the International Chamber of Commerce. In addition he is a director of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, a member of the Advisory Council of the School of Commerce of McGill University and active in musical and welfare organizations." [1955 introduction for speech on "EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY" to The Empire Club of Canada.] Later became Chairman, Dupont of Canada, and a director on the boards of 17 companies. Doctor of Humane Letters, Univ. of Del. honorarium. This picture was taken by Josef Karsh, famous for his portraits of Eisenhower, Einstein, Hemingway and lots of other dignitaries.

Obituary: "Herbert H. Lank, an internationally known industrialist and retired president and chairman of DuPont Co. of Canada Ltd., died Saturday in a Montreal nursing home. He was 82…Mr. Lank was born in Seaford, Del., where his father, Albert J. Lank, was a rural mail carrier and justice of the peace.

Mr. Lank graduated from the University of Delaware in 1925, helping to defray his college expenses by making nightly appearances as a clarinet and saxophone player with local dance orchestras and Dixieland bands.

He joined DuPont in 1925 as an order clerk in Parlin, NJ. His fluency in French soon led to a transfer to France [where he met his future wife, Nan, from Boston who was studying there]. He returned in 1928 as assistant export sales manager in the company's old finishes division.

In 1931 he was transferred to a branch in Argentina, where he remained until 1942, when he was named a special assistant to the president of Canadian Industries Ltd., a DuPont Co. affiliate.

In 1943 he was named vice-president of Canadian Industries Ltd. The company divided in 1954 and Lank became president of DuPont Co. of Canada Ltd. He remained president until 1965 and retired as chairman of the board in 1969. He was an honorary director at the time of his death.

Mr. Lank became a Canadian citizen in 1954. He was a member of the executive council of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, a VP and director of the Canadian Council of the International Chamber of Commerce, a fellow in the Canadian Geographical Society, a member of the Canadian-American Committee of the National Planning Association, Canada's Defense Research Board and the advisory council of the School of Commerce of McGill University. He was president of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and director of Canadian World Exhibition Corp., which presented the Montreal Expo in 1967.

He received honorary doctorates from the University of Montreal in 1956 and the University of Delaware in 1959. In May the University of Delaware presented Mr. Lank with a distinguished service medal to honor his humanitarian concerns.

He served on the boards of many prominent Canadian firms, including Toronto-Dominion Bank, Consolidated Paper Corp. Ltd., Northern Electric Co. Ltd., Montreal Trust Co., United Aircraft of Canada, and Hudson Bay Oil & Gas Co.

Services will be held Wednesday in Montreal. The family suggests contributions to Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Canada." Herb was cremated and ashes buried in Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.

Herbert married "Nan" Oriana Bailey, daughter of Albert Edward Bailey and Marion Breed Hall, on Mar 19, 1927 in Newton Center, MA, in a double-ring ceremony with Nan's sister, Marion. ("Nan" Oriana Bailey was born on Jan 24, 1902 in Boston, MA, died in 1992 and was buried in Montreal, PQ, Canada.)