Harold Matzner, the philanthropist and businessman who served as chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Festival for more than two decades, died Sept. 4 in Palm Springs after a brief illness. He was 88.
Over nearly four decades in the desert, Matzner donated more than $85 million to local nonprofits and helped the festival become an important stop on the Hollywood awards circuit.
Born in Newark, N.J., Matzner grew up during the Depression and worked briefly in sports journalism before entering the marketing business. He founded direct-mail advertising firm CBA Industries, which continues to deliver millions of advertising circulars weekly, and remained CEO into his 80s.
In 1999, Matzner stepped in to rescue the struggling Palm Springs International Film Festival. As chairman, he donated more than $12 million of his own money, built the Palm Springs International Film Awards into a popular stop on the awards calendar and helped welcome stars including Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Denzel Washington, George Clooney and Timothée Chalamet.
Matzner also became chairman of the Palm Springs Tennis Club, naming its restaurant Spencer’s at the Mountain after his Siberian Husky.
His other causes included Eisenhower Health, DAP Health, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, the McCallum Theatre, the Palm Springs Art Museum, FIND Food Bank, Jewish Family Services of the Desert, the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, and Equality California.
Among the honors he received were the Horatio Alger Award, the Richard M. Milanovich Humanitarian Award, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Philanthropist of the Year Award. The General Patton Memorial Museum dedicated the Matzner Tank Pavilion in his honor, and he has a star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars at the base of the Sonny Bono statue.
Matzner was known to say that his joy came from “making magic for the people I love.” His mantra was simple: “Never give up. Always push forward.”
He is survived by his partner, Shellie Reade; son Devin; daughter Laura; grandchildren Elizabeth and Emily and nephew, Jason.
Services will be announced at a later date.
