A Meliora Message
Thomas J. Farrell ’88, ’90W (MS) has been named to lead University Advancement.
“Tom Farrell is a highly experienced star in Advancement. I am delighted that he will soon be leading our Advancement team,” said President Joel Seligman. “He brings strong Rochester connections as an alumnus and as someone who began his career in our Advancement Office. Since then, he has established an exceptional track record of fundraising leadership at the highest level.”
Currently chief development officer for the University of Illinois and president/CEO of the University of Illinois Foundation, Farrell will begin his tenure at Rochester on November 1. He will replace James Osterholt, who since September 2013 has served in an interim chief advancement officer role.
Farrell will become senior vice president and the James D. Thompson Chief Advancement Officer, a position created by a gift from University Trustee Larry Bloch ’75, P’13S and his wife, Cindy Bloch P’13S.
Farrell brings more than 24 years of advancement experience, which began in 1990 as class campaign fundraiser at the University. From 1993-95, he served as director of the University’s Reunion Major Gifts Program, managing multi-million dollar regional campaigns as part of an overall $375 million University campaign goal. He then led the fundraising program at the University at Buffalo Law School, before joining Dartmouth College as director of gift planning. In 2001, Farrell began a 10-year stint at the University of Pennsylvania where he managed Penn’s undergraduate and individual giving program and served as a member of its senior management team responsible for coordinating all institutional advancement activity, including strategy for Penn’s recently completed $4.3 billion Making History capital campaign.
In 2010, Farrell joined the University of Chicago as vice president for alumni relations and development, leading a staff of 450 advancement professionals from all schools, divisions and units, including the University of Chicago Medical Center, and planning Chicago’s current comprehensive campaign.
You can read more about Tom Farrell’s appointment in the official press release. You can also read more about Larry and Cindy Bloch’s gift in the April 2014 issue of Fast Forward.
Fielding Builds on Legacy
Ron Fielding '73 (MA), '76S (MBA), P'14S
After graduating nearly 40 years ago from the Simon Business School, Ron Fielding ’73 (MA), ’76S (MBA), P’14S is still showing his appreciation for the education he received, and in doing so, building an impressive legacy of student support.
With a generous $2.5 million gift in support of scholarships, Ron has now committed nearly $10 million to scholarships for Simon School students.
“I am deeply appreciative of Ron’s longtime support of the Simon Business School’s students,” said President Joel Seligman. “He has been a remarkable advocate for scholarships and has set a tremendous example. This most recent generous commitment will enable even more students to find success through a Simon education.”
The recent gift comes after Fielding pledged $6 million to the Ronald H. Fielding Scholarship Fund in 2012. He credits the Simon School for preparing him to start, and have success in, his own business, and for that he is “happy to share the fruits of [his] business success with the Simon School.”
Ron, now retired after working more than 25 years in the municipal bond industry, is as active in the Simon School community as he is generous. He is a frequent guest-lecturer, a mentor for many students, and has provided invaluable guidance as a member of the Simon School Executive Advisory Committee, National Council, and campaign committee.
In May, the School showed its appreciation for all that Ron has done as an alumnus, as well as a volunteer and donor. During commencement, Ron was awarded the Dean’s Medal. Among the highest honors given by the School, the Dean’s Medal recognizes extraordinary service, philanthropy, and leadership to the School and the overall dedication and commitment that inspire others to take leadership roles at the University.
You can read more about Ron’s previous giving on the Simon Business School website or in the Summer 2013 issue of Endeavor. You can also learn more about scholarships and fellowships and how to create them in the Endowed Scholarships Brochure.
Fine Family Supports Alzheimer's Care, Research
Anton Porsteinsson '93M (Res), the William and Sheila Konar Endowed Professor and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Care, Research and Education Program, and Frederick J. Marshall, M.D., director of UR Medicine’s Memory Care Program, review a patient’s brain scan at the Memory Care Clinic.
Within the last 20 years, gifts creating endowed professorships have linked the Fine Family to excellence in neurology and gerontology. The family’s continued commitment to battling neurological disease has recently created the Julius, Helen, and Robert Fine Professorship.
A $2 million gift from the Robert Fine Trust establishing the new Fine Professorship will be used to support care and research for Alzheimer’s disease.
“Professorships are the building blocks of a great university,” said President Joel Seligman. “We are deeply grateful to the Fine Family for their decades of support for the Medical Center. This gift will serve as a lasting tribute and will further enable the groundbreaking work being done in neurology and neurosurgery.”
The Julius, Helen, and Robert Fine Professorship follows the creation of two other professorships named in honor of the Fine Family.
In 2000, a generous gift from the Chester and Dorris Carlson Charitable Trust created the Paul H. Fine Professorship in Medicine. The gift, made at the direction of Catherine Carlson, recognized the exemplary skills and distinguished career of Paul Fine ’57, ’61M (MD), ’66M (Res), professor emeritus in UR Medicine’s Department of Medicine. Five years prior, Joseph Aresty gave $2 million to establish the Helen Aresty Fine and Irving Fine Professorship in Neurology in memory of his sister, who struggled with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and in honor of his brother-in-law.
You can read more about this gift and the Fine Family’s legacy in the official press release. You can also learn more about Alzheimer’s and how you can support the fight against it at the University of Rochester in the Alzheimer's Disease Care and Research case statement.