Donor Profiles / 1999-2000

Morris "Marty" Silverman and President Karen Hitchcock

To his roles as successful entrepreneur, distinguished attorney, decorated veteran, and dynamic humanitarian, Morris “Marty” Silverman has added another: partner in the University at Albany’s Life Sciences Research Initiative.

Silverman recently made a $1 million gift to the Life Sciences Research Initiative, an ambitious effort to invest $100 million in research and academics in such fields as biology and genomics. The University is seeking $20 million of this investment from private philanthropy.

“This initiative is a strategic investment in a critical academic and research area. However, we can’t fulfill this strategic vision without private support, and it should come as no surprise that Marty Silverman has once again stepped forward to make a difference. We are deeply grateful for his support,” said UAlbany President Karen R. Hitchcock.

A year earlier, Silverman helped launch another UAlbany initiative, the Center for Jewish Studies, with a $25,000 challenge grant.

The life sciences fit well with Silverman’s philanthropic interests. Through the Marty and Dorothy Silverman Foundation, formed in 1984 and named for himself and his late wife, the Manhattan resident has given away millions of dollars to academic, health care, veterans’ and Jewish and other faith-based causes, as well as to medical research and the law. His generosity also benefits senior citizens and abused and neglected youngsters.

A firm believer that “the future is now,” the 90-year-old Silverman is always looking ahead. The son of an immigrant tailor, he worked his way through Albany Law School, graduating in 1936 and accepting a position with the Legal Aid Society. Three years later, Silverman departed the Capital Region for New York City.

After entering the U.S. Army during World War II, earning two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, and numerous other commendations, and rising to the rank of major, he returned home and found both fame and fortune. The fortune sprang from his ownership of two businesses he started himself; one of them, National Equipment Rental, grew to become the largest privately held leasing firm in the United States. The fame resulted from his charitable works.

Although he left his hometown more than 60 years ago, Silverman still maintains a strong affection for the Capital Region. He expresses that feeling tangibly, supporting various local causes through his foundation. At Albany Medical Center, Silverman made a commitment that annually generates a $500,000 prize for medicine and biomedical research. He also established three chairs, including one in cardiology, at Albany Medical College. He is the driving force behind University Heights, a consortium that joins his alma mater, Albany Law, with Albany Medical College, Albany College of Pharmacy, and The Sage Colleges to enhance the region’s offerings in law, medicine, and higher education. A gift to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute made possible a venture that will further biotechnology research by the institution’s faculty. A donation to Albany College of Pharmacy provided two-thirds of the funding needed for an endowed chair in pharmaceutical sciences. Contributions to Albany Law allowed the school to build a moot courtroom and to establish a chair in Governor George E. Pataki’s name.

In recognition of his philanthropy, Silverman has been accorded numerous honors. They include an honorary Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law, an honorary doctor of humane letters from Hunter College, and an honorary doctor of public service from The Sage Colleges.

— Carol Olechowski

Like every University at Albany graduate, Helen Jones Warner, B.A.’36, M.L.S.’67, received an undergraduate degree that prepared her for success. Thirty years later, she returned to UAlbany to earn a master’s degree that propelled her onto another career path: that of medical librarian.

When Warner graduated from high school in her native Granville, N.Y., she enrolled at UAlbany “because I wanted an education, but it was the height of the Depression, and there was no money.” After earning her degree in English, “I was lucky; I got a job right out of college.” Inspired by three of her UAlbany professors – Harold W. Thompson, Harry Hastings and Mary Elizabeth Conklin – Warner taught English at Draper High School in Rotterdam for nine years, then for another three at Port Jefferson High School on Long Island.

She later married Randolph S. Warner, Jr., and relocated to Rome, N.Y., where she was a substitute teacher for a brief time. When her husband died, Warner was in her late 40s. “At that point, I didn’t want to go back to teaching, but I wanted to do something other than play bridge and go out for lunch. I thought it would be nice to be a librarian.”

It was in Florida, where Warner had moved, that she first heard the term “medical librarian.” She asked a physician what a medical library was. The doctor explained, then added, “We need one, but we can’t afford it.” Warner decided to return to UAlbany to study for her library science degree. “In the meantime, the doctor had raised money for the library. I was there for 15 years, and it was the smartest move I could have made, because I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Today, Warner supports the University at Albany through a charitable remainder trust. Asked why alumni should support UAlbany, Warner responds: “I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t. You owe so much to your education; it’s such an influence on your life. I wonder what I would be if I hadn’t gone to Albany? I couldn’t have been a nurse, and I would have made a terrible secretary!”

When a door closes, a window opens. Just ask Marjorie Ferrugio Delmar, B.A.’58, M.A.’63.

As “a very, very shy” undergraduate social studies major at UAlbany’s predecessor institution, the New York State College for Teachers, Delmar was encouraged by one of her teachers, Professor of Education Wallace Taylor, to try out for dramatics. “I knew from the time I was very young that I wanted to be a teacher,” notes the Huntington, N.Y., resident. “But Professor Taylor recognized my shyness – I’d blush standing in front of the class – and suggested that I perform in a play.” Delmar auditioned and won the role of the maid in the 1956 State College Revue, It’s a Social Thing. “I had one line, then I was supposed to open a door and exit. The door wouldn’t open, though, so I went out the window.” The audience howled. The director liked the improvisation so much that he retained it in ensuing performances. Best of all, “I wasn’t shy anymore,” Delmar remembers.

Now, nearly 45 years after earning her bachelor’s degree, Delmar is still opening windows – windows of opportunity – for UAlbany students and faculty. Through The University at Albany Foundation, she has made two bequests to establish endowments. A $450,000 bequest is to provide two graduate fellowships to students who aspire to teach at the secondary level. The other, for $250,000, benefits the Center for Jewish Studies by sponsoring visiting lectureships, securing rare books and manuscripts for the Jewish Studies collections, and promoting and coordinating the international exchange programs at UAlbany and other State University of New York schools. “I hope more monies will be allocated for each, in time. I’d like to contribute a total of $1 million,” Delmar adds.

The New York State College for Teachers exceeded all her expectations. Says Delmar: “I shall never forget the people I met there; they had a tremendous impact on my life. I appreciate all the memories I have and the wonderful education I received.” She retired in 1992 after teaching social studies and psychology for 35 years at Oceanside High School in Long Island.

Dallas trial lawyer Theodore “Ted” Anderson received his undergraduate degree from the University at Albany more than 20 years ago, but he’s still reaping the benefits from it.

Anderson, B.A.’82, and his wife, Elena Rodrigues Anderson, B.S.’82, recently pledged $100,000 to the University, in gratitude for the life start they received at UAlbany and to underscore the importance of alumni support for their alma mater.

“You’re not only building the value of your diploma when you give, but you’re helping the University reach its goals,” said Anderson, who was instrumental in starting the UAlbany Lawyers Association and also sits on the boards of The University at Albany Foundation and the Alumni Association

Anderson said the University continues to be a valuable resource to him. “Since I have become involved at the University, I have built relationships that have been beneficial to my practice and my career. It’s a lifelong relationship, but it’s a two-way street. We’re hoping this leadership gift will inspire a stronger tradition of alumni giving, and that it will become part of a pattern.” Compared to the support other major universities enjoy from their alumni, “we’re just not there yet,” he added.

The Andersons’ latest commitment is undesignated. Through an earlier gift of $25,000 three years ago, they endowed a Presidential Scholarship in Elena’s name.

A political science major, Ted Anderson later earned a law degree from Southern Methodist University. He is now a partner in the law firm of Kilgore and Kilgore in Dallas, Tex. Elena Anderson, who graduated with a degree in accounting, had a highly successful career in finance and banking before retiring to raise their children, Katie, 11, and Alexander, 9. She serves on the boards of several charitable organizations, including the Lakewood Women’s Service League and the Dallas Housing Crisis Center.

The Weinstock siblings honored their mother in a special way last Feb. 11 when she turned 70: they established a University at Albany scholarship in her name.

The Howard and Cecily Wachtel Scholarship, which also honors the Weinstocks’ late stepfather, will fund a scholarship for an undergraduate history major.

“We all majored in history, and my mother loves history. At the same time, we wanted to give something back to the University, so we thought this would be a great gesture,” said Peter Weinstock, B.A.’82, a Dallas attorney. Peter’s older brother Craig, B.A.’80, started the Weinstock UAlbany tradition, which also includes Andrew, B.A.’84. For one semester, in fact, all three were enrolled at the University. The brothers’ older sister is Lynda Hamilton. They all grew up on Long Island.

The brothers, following in the footsteps of their stepfather, an attorney, all earned law degrees – Craig from Vanderbilt, Peter from Duke and Andrew from Tulane. Craig and Andrew are now litigators, and Peter works in corporate law. Craig and Lynda both live in Houston, near their mother, while Andrew resides in New Orleans.

Majoring in history, Peter said, provided a solid foundation for law. “The ability to reason, and to see patterns in facts and circumstances – those aspects of earning a degree in history at Albany – are a core to legal reasoning,” he said. “The fact that Albany was affordable also helped tremendously.”

Peter said his mother was “overwhelmed” with her children’s $25,000 pledge to fund the scholarship, which will go to a junior or senior with financial need and a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

“I think when you reach the point in life that she has, there is nothing material you can give that is as satisfying as the pride she feels in what her children are doing for society, ” Peter said. “We felt this was much more meaningful.”

Irene Harbison, widow of the late Ralph Harbison, dean of the School of Education, has donated $200,000 to help establish a $500,000 graduate fellowship in her husband’s memory. The Ralph W. Harbison Fellowship will fully support three to four graduate students in the field of education each year. Priority will be given to students from high-need countries nominated by field officers of the World Bank, where Harbison spent part of his career before joining the University at Albany two years ago.

Susan Phillips, interim dean of the School of Education, said the first Harbison Fellow would be named next spring, with enrollment at UAlbany expected in the fall of 2003. The award will include full tuition, a stipend and a possible housing allowance. Some details remain to be worked out.

“It’s a very fitting memorial to Ralph, whose life work was to make education accessible, especially to individuals in developing countries,” said Phillips. “Ralph spent most of his life working on continents other than the U.S., so to have a program that would bring students from those developing countries here in his honor has special meaning to us.”

Phillips said the School of Education is working with Mrs. Harbison to coordinate appeals to former colleagues of Ralph Harbison at the World Bank, the Ford Foundation and in other circles where he worked.

Ralph Harbison died last winter following a heart attack while he was skiing with family and friends in the North Country.

Over 200 alumni and friends raised $90,000 in the first annual Scott M. McGovern (B.S.'87) Memorial Golf Tournament at Wheatley Hills Golf Course on Long Island last Sept. 9. The event, which also included a banquet and auction, was a celebration of the life of McGovern, a Eurobrokers employee who died in the attack on the World Trade Center. A substantial portion of the funds will establish the Scott M. McGovern Endowed Scholarship, which will support a freshman meeting financial and merit criteria. Adam Leshowitz, Doug Ketterer, Peter Farman, Ray Costa, Michael Hoffstetter, Jim Neiland, J.R. McCabe, and Dominick Sansotta, all alumni, joined McGovern's wife, Jill, in organizing the tournament.

President Hitchcock poses for a photo with three of UAlbany's best football players, #22 Samson Brown '03, #5 Ryan Roeder '03 and #3 Jon George '04, at the second annual Polo Goes Purple and Gold event on August 25, 2002. The event raised over $13,000 to benefit athletic programs at the University at Albany.


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