Stewart W. Bainum, Sr.

Stewart W. Bainum Sr.
Born	Stewart William Bainum June 10, 1919 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	February 12, 2014 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Cause of death	pneumonia
Residence	Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Education	Mount Vernon Academy
Alma mater	Washington Adventist University (did not graduate)
Occupation	Businessman
Spouse(s)	Jane Goyne
Children	2 sons (including Stewart W. Bainum Jr.), 2 daughters
Parent(s)	Charles Bainum Emma Bainum
Relatives	Duke Bainum (nephew)

Stewart William Bainum Sr. (1919–2014) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Choice Hotels, a hotel chain, and HCR Manor Care, a retirement facility chain. He was the founder of the Commonweal Foundation, a philanthropic organization.

Stewart W. Bainum Sr. was born on June 10, 1919 in Detroit, Michigan. His father, Charles Bainum, worked for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit until he was dismissed during the Great Depression and worked for the Works Progress Administration in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had two brothers, Robert and Irvin, and a sister, June Hill.

Stewart was educated at the Mount Vernon Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He dropped out due to financial distress, but graduated years later. Meanwhile, attended the Washington Adventist University.

Bainum hitch-hiked to Washington, D.C. in 1936, where he took menial jobs. With his savings, he started a plumbing business. He later became a real estate developer and real estate investor. He served as the Chairman of Realty Investment Co..

Bainum was the co-founder of a hotel in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1957. Over the years, he opened more hotels and founded Quality Inns International, later known as Choice Hotels. He served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 1987, and served on its Board of Directors until 2000.

Meanwhile, Bainum opened a retirement facility with his brother in 1960. Over the years, he opened over 200 retirement facilities and established Manor Care. Through a 1998 merger with the Health Care and Retirement Corp., it became known as HCR Manor Care. He served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 1987, and served on its Board of Directors until 2000.

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