Feuerstein’s Low Profile, High Impact; Caan-Do at Chapman

Members of OC’s Jewish community are sitting Shiva with the latest passing of a nonagenarian giant. They’re not alone in their mourning, because Arnold Feuerstein was yet another individual who also held the respect of the larger community of business here. Feuerstein’s list of accomplishments in real estate and retail—not to mention philanthropy—cannot be properly condensed to fit in this space. Don’t scratch your head for too long if you hadn’t heard of him, though—he liked a low profile. Local PR man, historian and all-around stand-up guy Martin Brower recalls that Feuerstein didn’t go around telling anyone he was a big shot—but he couldn’t keep the world from giving clues. “I first got a glimpse of how important Arnold was in the business world at the invitational opening of the Irvine Company’s Tustin Marketplace back in the 1980s,” Brower told the Insider. “Arnold was there, as was the legendary Jim Edwards, founder and owner of the Edwards Theater chain. Jim followed Arnold wherever he went during the evening. Jim wanted to be sure he was in any of Arnold’s shopping centers.” Brower also notes that Feuerstein is the third “Jewish philanthropic giant” to pass this year, following longtime business partner Allan Fainbarg and Irving Burg. “Their marks are everywhere, from Heritage Pointe, the Jewish home for the aging in Mission Viejo, to the Jewish Community Center in Irvine,” says Brower … Bill Ackman didn’t have enough trouble with David Pyott staying on his case—he had to tangle with Berkshire Hathaway and Coca-Cola last week … Former Allergan boss Pyott managed to skewer Ackman and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International for their actions in the would-be raid of the drugmaker—which failed in itself but still forced the sale of the company—while graciously thanking his hosts for Citizen of the Year honors during Chapman University’s annual American Celebration fundraiser on Nov. 7 … Pyott’s jab at Ackman offered another public indication—they have ranged from congressional testimony to recent talks to local business groups—that he’s not done with the hedge funder … It was just a few days later that a federal court in Santa Ana denied a request by Ackman and Valeant to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of insider trading in shares of Allergan. It’s a class-action case that hits upon the crux of Pyott’s complaint … Chapman’s dance students seemed set to steal the show with a routine from West Side Story. Then the singers did an a capella version of a number from “Rent” that put them on equal footing … It was the last American Celebration for Jim Doti as Chapman’s president—he’s due to hand the reins over to Daniele Struppa in August. That backdrop made it particularly touching to take in the song-and-dance Doti and longtime stage partner Julia Argyros did to “I Remember It Well” … Chapman’s other honoree of the evening also has a tie to the campus through a son. James Caan received a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award at the event, while his son—who goes by Jimmy—suited up as a defensive back for the school’s football team, the same night … The elder Caan also will suit up for Chapman to teach a course at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts … Maybe Gary Jabara can teach a course at the University of Oregon—where his son Cameron has signed a letter of intent to play baseball. Put Jabara down as a professor of entrepreneurship (see related story, page 1).