Longtime supporter, friend, alumnus and Trustee Emeritus Leon M. Pollack ’63 passed away on October 21, 2023. He is warmly remembered for his humor, kindness and integrity.
Trustee Emeritus Pollack was an Adelphi University Board of Trustees member from 2000 to 2012. In that time, he served on five committees and as vice-chair. He was the first living alumnus in Adelphi’s history to make a philanthropic commitment of $1 million or more to the University and established the Leon Pollack ’63 Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2004 to benefit undergraduate students in the Honors College. At the conclusion of his service in 2012, he received the Lifetime Service Award at Adelphi’s annual President’s Gala.
Trustee Emeritus Pollack earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Adelphi and built a successful career on Wall Street as a general partner at Mabon, Nugent & Co. and as a managing director of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Our University extends condolences to his wife, Catherine MA ’78, daughters Robin and Andrea, and all his loved ones.
He was a true gentleman. His warmth, humor, integrity and kindness will never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to know him. We were blessed to call him our dad.
I am incredibly grateful for Leon’s leadership, loyalty and generosity that helped build the Adelphi community we know today. He is a wonderful example of the strong and enduring connections we strive to create within our community.
I was blessed to know Leon professionally and through Adelphi. He was a caring man, intelligent, kind and gentle. A great supporter of Adelphi, he encouraged me to deepen my involvement, for which I will always thank him. He was a mentor to me when we worked and was always gracious with his advice and counsel. He loved life, his family and his friends.
Leon’s giving and leadership set an example for us. Every committee member, including myself, awaited his advice after sharing our opinions. He was the voice of reason, and I knew we would all miss him when he retired. I feel the same today.