Welcome to the General Patton Memorial Museum

The General Patton Memorial Museum honors the memory of Harold Matzner.

Harold Matzner was a museum board member who funded the Matzner Tank Pavilion building and donated enough to bring three military tanks back to life here at the General Patton Memorial Museum.

Harold Matzner, the celebrated philanthropist, business innovator, and cultural architect who transformed Palm Springs into a world-class destination for arts and civic life, died on September 4, 2025, in Palm Springs after a brief illness. He was 88. Widely known as “Mr. Palm Springs,” Matzner was more than a benefactor — he was a builder, strategist, and force of nature whose generosity and vision reshaped the Coachella Valley. Over nearly four decades, he donated more than $85 million to local nonprofits, championed healthcare, education, and the arts, and elevated the Palm Springs International Film Festival into a premier stop on Hollywood’s awards circuit.

Matzner’s impact was recognized with a litany of honors, including the Horatio Alger Award, the Richard M. Milanovich Humanitarian Award, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Philanthropist of the Year Award. In 2017, the General Patton Memorial Museum dedicated the Matzner Tank Pavilion in his honor, and the McCallum Theatre celebrated his decade of service as chairman with a rare distinction for gifts exceeding $5 million. His star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars lies at the base of the Sonny Bono statue, honoring his close friend and the festival’s founder.

Despite his public persona, Matzner was deeply private. He often deflected attention from his own story, preferring to focus on the present and the future. Friends and family recall his mischievous humor — from elaborate pranks to spontaneous adventures — and his unwavering loyalty. He is survived by his partner for life Shellie Reade; his son Devin; his daughter Laura; grandchildren Elizabeth and Emily; nephew Jason; and his two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Little Guy and Doc. Matzner often said his joy came from “making magic for the people I love.” His mantra was simple: “Never give up. Always push forward.” His absence will be felt in boardrooms, ballrooms, and the countless lives touched by his generosity — many who never knew his name but live better because of him.

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