Duke Becker, Co-founder of California Mart, Dies
Sydney “Duke” Becker died on June 7 from complications related to diabetes. He was 88 years old.
Becker, a certified public accountant, helped found the California Mart in 1963 with business partners Harvey and Barney Morse.
He was born in New Jersey but lived most of his adult life in California, according to his son Bob.
And, although Becker worked as a CPA, he always had a tie to Los Angeles’ apparel industry. He had been accountant to the Morse family and other apparel industry firms and joined the Morses in early stages as general partner in establishing the Cal Mart.
“He was always someone the tenants could talk to,” said Bob Becker. “His word was his bond. You needed nothing in writing from him. If he shook hands with you, it happened.”
Duke Becker retired before the Cal Mart was acquired by Equitable Life Assurance Co. in 1994, but he remained closely affiliated with the building, according to lifelong friend Barbara Kaplan. Becker was a longtime friend of Kaplan’s parents, Irv and Gertrude Kaplan. The Beckers, Kaplans and Sydney and Mimi Moss were frequent travel partners after their retirement. Barbara Kaplan said her father recalled that the three couples took 22 cruises and traveled to such places as Hawaii, Mexico and China.
Kaplan said that after Becker retired, he, her father and several friends would meet weekly for lunch at the Cal Mart.
“His favorite time was every Friday when he and his buddies would get together and chitchat,” she said. “Everyone in the building knew that’s where to find my dad and Duke. That was their meeting place.”
Duke and Florence Becker were ardent supporters of the Fashion Industries Guild of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. In 1987, the two were honored by the organization, and they helped to raise funds to build the Florence and Duke Becker Building at Cedars-Sinai.
Becker felt a responsibility to give back to the community, according to Barbara Kaplan, who said he passed that message on to those in his life.
“He said it’s an obligation that when people are fortunate, they give back to the community. It’s their responsibility in life,” she said.
Longtime friend Bruce Corbin, senior vice president of Union Bank, praised his business acumen, his generosity and his appreciation of history.
“When I think of Sydney ’Duke’ Becker, I think of three things: One, he was a bright businessman. Two, he was an extremely generous man in terms of charitable donations and activities in the civic and community activity area. And three, he had a love of history,” Corbin said.
Corbin, who knew Becker for at least 30 years, recalled Becker’s collection of letters from historical figures including Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.
Bob Becker said his father was very devoted to his family “and especially proud of his grandchildren, who he referred to as his dividends.”
Becker is survived by his wife, Florence; sons Bob and Barry; daughters-in-law Rona and Judy; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The California Market Center, which now houses the Cal Mart, added Becker’s name to the Ruth Bregman memorial wall in the mezzanine above the building lobby.
Contributions can be made to the Fashion Industries Guild Florence and Duke Becker Building, care of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Tribute, P.O. Box 48750, Los Angeles, CA 90048-0750. —Alison A. Nieder
