Erna S. Lovely, MA ’65 and Thomas D. Lovely ’54, ’04 (Hon.)

During their lifetimes, Erna Susan Lovely and Thomas Dixon Lovely remained steadfast supporters of their alma mater. A generous benefactor to Adelphi, Trustee Emeritus Thomas Dixon Lovely was an important adviser to six of its presidents, served for 15 years as vice chairman of the Adelphi University Board of Trustees and was chairman of Adelphi’s Planned Giving Council. He was a founding governor and leader of Adelphi’s School of Banking and Money Management—the predecessor to its Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. A member of the Friends of the Adelphi University Library committee, Erna and her husband established the Erna S. Lovely Endowed Lecture Series at the University.

Erna worked as an elementary school teacher in the Garden City School District and provided leadership as president of the Garden City School District’s Parent Teacher Association, chairman of Mercy Hospital’s Golf and Tennis Tournament and vice chair of Nassau Community College’s Board of Trustees. The Lovelys established the Thomas and Richard Lovely Scholarship, named for their two sons who attended Garden City public schools, for Garden City High School students attending Adelphi University.

Thomas served as chairman and CEO of Fidelity New York Bank. During his lifetime of philanthropy, he was a trustee of the State University of New York as well as Nassau County Medical Center, president of the Nassau County Council of the Boy Scouts of America and chairman of the SUNY Old Westbury College Foundation.

In 2004, 50 years after earning his undergraduate degree at Adelphi, Thomas received an honorary doctorate from the University. In 2010, Erna was honored with the Lifetime Service to Adelphi Award at Adelphi University’s 10th annual President’s Gala.