The Cooper Union is proud to recognize the individuals, families, and organizations whose contributions total $100,000 or more as members of our Lifetime Giving Societies. Each Society is named for a member of Peter Cooper’s family in recognition of the philanthropic legacy that has sustained this institution for generations. Members are listed on the Lifetime Giving Society Wall in the lobby of 41 Cooper Square, and receive invitations to special events and other benefits in recognition of their generosity. Contact us to learn how to become a member. 

 

Meet the newest members of our Lifetime Giving Societies: 

Peter Cooper Heritage 

Individuals and families who, over the course of their lives, have donated $1 million or more to The Cooper Union are inducted into the Peter Cooper Heritage Society, which celebrates the philanthropic spirit that perpetuates this institution.

$1,000,000+ 

Altman Foundation 

The Estate of Jack Feder '50 

George Reeves '64 and Ross Wisnewski 

Anonymous

 

Sarah Bedell Cooper 

Sarah Bedell Cooper (1793-1869), Peter Cooper's wife, was instrumental in establishing a "Golden Wedding Fund" on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, to support charities. The Sarah Bedell Cooper Society celebrates her commitment to The Cooper Union as well as her strong philanthropic spirit and initiative. The Society honors the individuals and families who, over the course of their lives, have donated $500,000-999,999 to The Cooper Union.

$500,000-$999,999 

Frank W. Miner '47 

The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation

 

Abram S. Hewitt 

Abram S. Hewitt (1822-1903) was a teacher, lawyer, iron manufacturer, U.S. Congressman, and Mayor of New York City. He was also Peter Cooper's son-in-law and Cooper Union's most important founding trustee. The Abram S. Hewitt Society honors individuals and families who over the course of their lives have donated $250,000-499,999 to The Cooper Union.

$250,000-$499,999 

Chubb  

Leon Levy Foundation 

Walter Schepp

 

Sarah Amelia Hewitt 

Sarah Amelia Hewitt (1830-1912) was the daughter of Peter Cooper and Sarah Bedell Cooper.  She married Abram S. Hewitt in 1855, and together they were influential in the world of public service.  Sarah Amelia shared her husband's dedication, as an economic and civil leader, to uncompromising excellence and access to education.  Launched in November 2008, the Society which bears her name celebrates the many individuals and families whose lifetime support of The Cooper Union has reached $100,000. 

$100,000-$249,999 

Jacqueline Bernstein and Marvin H. Weiner 

James '79 and Natalie Bracken 

Jack Eichenbaum '63 

Jane and Bill Furman 

Albert '69 and Abby Hochhauser 

Toni Howard and David Yarnell 

Malcolm '97 and Danielle King 

Jimmy Kwong '80 and Pauline Yep 

Richard H. Lewis '77 and Joan M. Sapinsley 

Ernest Nussbaum '50 and Patricia Pothier 

Siemens Digital Industries Software 

Linda Smith and David Mangelsdorff 

Ju-Young Suh '91 and Hai-Sik Lee 

Alfred Zacharias '53

 

Current Lifetime Giving Society Members

 

Peter Cooper Heritage 

$1,000,000+ 

Sidney J. Altschuler '57  

Robert '43 and Margaret Bayuk  

Joan and Robert Bernhard   

The Estate of Howard '49 and Anita Betts   

Irwin S. Chanin 1915 and Sylvia Chanin    

Charina Endowment Fund 

George Clark '41   

Con Edison  

James E. Craig '63  

Francois '87 and Susan de Menil  

Donald '37 and Jane Deed   

Ronald W. Drucker and Lisa Ware  

Edward Durbin '48 and Joan Morris   

The Estate of Antonya '62 Eisen and Daniel Eisen '62   

Susan Eisenberg '62 and Benjamin Eisenberg '61  

Eleanor and Stanley W. Ensminger '46 

The Estate of Ellen and Sidney Feltman   

Howard Flagg '75 and Angelica Garcia-Flagg  

The Estate of Elaine Flug   

The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation  

F. Phillip Geraci  

The Estate of Kathleen Gerla   

The Estate of Byron Gibbs '51   

Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation  

Paula and Jeffrey Gural  

The Estate of George Hecht '30 / '51   

The Estate of Roger '25 and Tessa Heine   

Isaac Heller '52   

Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust  

The Estate of William Hergenrother '55   

IDC Foundation  

Benedict '75 and Susan Itri  

Maurice Kanbar 

Alex '49 and Ada Katz  

William King '48    

The Estate of Helmuth Knapp '50   

John Kossak '41 and Evelyn Kranes Kossak  

The Kresge Foundation  

Stanley '70 and Ruth Lapidus  

The Robert Lehman Foundation  

The Estate of Harry Levine '30   

Robert B. Menschel   

Richard and Ronay Menschel  

Marie Morrone, in honor of Vincent Morrone '63  

National Science Foundation  

Albert Nerken '33   

Rosemary '53 and Milton Okun   

The Estate of Emil '41 and Billie Pansky   

Rubin '42 and Rene Rabinowitz   

The Estate of Earl Reddert 1915   

Michael F. Roberti '67   

The Robin Hood Foundation 

Daniel and Joanna S. Rose  

Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Foundation  

Susan and Jack Rudin  

William '63 and Patricia Sandholm    

Morris Shane '47   

Frank Stanton, in honor of Louis Dorfman '39 and Ann Hysa Dorfman '39  

The Starr Foundation  

Peter Torraco '28   

The Estate of Leonard Trentin '37   

Martin '56 and Diane Trust   

The Trust Family Foundation  

The Estate of Mitchel '49 and Marjorie von Wieser   

Irma Giustino Weiss '45   

Barbara White Fishman '60   

Henry Wolf Foundation 

Anonymous (6)

 

Sarah Bedell Cooper 

$500,000-$999,999 

Booth Ferris Foundation  

Michael Borkowsky '61  

Kevin '72 and Patricia Burke   

Lois M. Collier 

Vic ‘63 and Eleanor DiFranco  

Thomas '77 and Diane Driscoll  

Mark L. Epstein '76  

George '40 and Cecily Fox 

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation  

In honor of Roy Grace '62   

Bette-Ann and Charles Gwathmey   

Roslyn and Elliot Jaffe 

Richard and Ellen Lincer  

Susan and John Michaelson 

National Endowment for the Arts  

New York State Council on the Arts 

The New York Community Trust - Henry C. Enders Fund  

Alphonse R. Normandia '48 and The Normandia Family 

Harry Ploss '68  

Richard '57 and Ardath Schwartz  

Surdna Foundation  

UNTIL ALL ARE FREE 

Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund  

Cynthia C. Weiler and E. Blake Moore, Jr. 

Anonymous (2)

 

Abram S. Hewitt 

$250,000-$499,999 

Howard '70 and Nancy Amols  

Lawrence B. Benenson 

Alfred '67 and Kathryn Brand  

Judith Cassella '71 and Charles Cassella '68  

Citi Community Development 

Clo and Charles S. Cohen  

Gary Davis 

Raymond '86 and Tina Falci  

Alan Fortier ‘79  

Morris '66 and Amanda Gelb  

Pearl Greenberg ‘48 and Murray Greenberg ‘49  

The Hearst Foundations  

Tat-Sing Huen '77 

Evelyn and Peter Kraus 

Leon Levy Foundation 

The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation  

Susan and John Michaelson  

Constance J. Milstein  

Ted and Monica Nicholas 

The Pinkerton Foundation 

Rockefeller Brothers Fund  

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation  

In Memory of Ahmad and Parvaneh Tehrani 

Tiger Foundation 

Philip Zev Weisberg '89 and Alla Weisberg  

Jeremy Wertheimer '82  

Tom '59 and Claire Wesselmann 

Dale '45 and Charlotte Zand  

Anonymous

 

Sarah Amelia Hewitt 

$100,000-$249,999 

Joel '58 and Louise Alper  

John and Corrinne Alpert Foundation   

Robert '54 and Linda Alwitt   

Marc and Joanna Appleton  

Daniel Arsham ‘03  

H.B. Avison, in memory of Beth and Art Kramberg    

George '59 and Frances Barletta   

Robert W. Bassemir '49  

The Bay and Paul Foundations, Inc.   

Bernard '40 and Lorraine Bayuk   

Mona Bhoyar and Milind Godbole, parents of Akash Godbole '17   

Charles '39 and Zelda Bliss 

Leo J. Brancato '50  

Kenneth Bridbord '64 and Maryanne Lachat   

Lia Vodja Brillhart '60  

Eugene '64 and Susan Briskman    

Mary Schmidt Campbell and George Campbell Jr.  

Marie and Joseph Celkupa 

Anne and Albert Chao   

John P. Clarke '66  

William '76 and Sandra Cordiano   

Norma Rancken Cossey ME'46 and C. Murray Cossey E'40   

Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation  

Cross Ridge Foundation 

The Charles A. Dana Foundation  

David ‘55 and Gladys Daniel 

Marvin '49 and Faith Dean  

Ira W. Decamp Foundation   

Christine Degen '68 and Bruce Degen '66  

Roberta and Deke Dening, parents of John Dening '99/'03  

Carol and Joseph Dobronyi  

Stephen Doyle '78 and Gael Towey  

Timothy Driscoll '56 and Barbara Driscoll   

Timothy Driscoll '73  

Louis Dorfsman '39 

Michael Duffy ‘97  

Lauren Esnes '80 and Eugene Esnes '80   

Joyce Feinsilber '50  

Jennifer Fenton Weishaupt ‘95 and Erich Weishaupt  

George A. Fischer '54    

N. Phyllis Fischer '54   

Frezza Family Foundation  

Janet Paxton Gardner '65 and The Edward and Elizabeth Gardner Foundation    

Stephen '67 and Jane Gerard   

Shirley Glaser ’56 and Milton Glaser ’51   

Harold '44 and Rose Goldberg  

Alan I. Goldsmith '86/'89  

Jack D. Goodman '51 and Nancy Grabow   

T.J. Gottesdiener '79 and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill  

James C. Gower '88/'90   

Richard G. Graven '52   

William 1921 and Polly Grimshaw   

Agnes Gund  

The Guzzardi Family 

Adele Hall and Robert W. Sweet   

Robert J. Hammond, Sr. '38 and Elizabeth T. Hammond    

Edward I. Hawthorne '43 and Lillian Hawthorne   

Jeffrey S. Hersch '87 and Ronny Hersch  

Eric '89 and Hillary Hirschhorn  

Sol Horwitz 

William J. Horvath 

John E. Huddy '85  

Aftab ‘97 and Ellen Hussain  

Institute of Museum and Library Services   

Judith and Thomas Iovino   

Susan Kamen Marsicano '61, in memory of Nicholas Marsicano  

The J.M. Kaplan Fund   

Jaishri and Vikas Kapoor   

Evie June Katz  

Steven '64 and Carolyn Koestenblatt   

John '64 and Sarah Koster   

Alan '70 and Camille Kramer   

The Labowsky Family 

Lynn '60 and Anne Marie Lander  

Eugene M. Lang Foundation   

Joseph '54 and Marie Lechleider

Sara Lee and Axel Schupf   

Michael Lefkowitz '69  

Ilan M. Levi '65 

David '74 and Diane Levy  

Susan Lin '88   

Fredric Litt '61 and Jane Ebbers Litt   

John L. Loeb   

Edgar Luber '53   

Raymond Luke 

Harriet and John Mack, in memory of William Cooper Mack '06  

James '80 and Patricia Malanga   

John ‘69 and Mary Manuck  

Connie V. Martinez   

Rhoda Metzger, in memory of Fred Metzger '57  

Cora and Clarence Michalis   

Fernanda D. Milling '29  

Ken '69 and Helene Mitchell   

Edgar '78 and Mary Mokuvos  

Vincent '36 and Grace Moore   

Katherine Faulkner, Daniel Gallagher, and Nader Tehrani, NADAAA 

Lawrence Ng '78 

Stavros Niarchos Foundation  

Ernest E. Olson Jr. '52 

Sean Patrick O'Neill '03 

Edward '63 and Mary Ott  

John Papamarcos ‘41  

Emil J. Parente '53   

William Paulus, Jr. '58 and Lois Paulus 

Alberta Poskanzer 

The Reed Foundation   

Donald '63 and Kathleen Reilly  

Arthur R. Robinson '51   

Anne Dudek Ronan '83/'84 and Gregory J. Ronan '81/'82   

Paul '62 and Ann Rosche  

The Estate of Fujio Saito '47 

Robert G. Sarubbi '53   

Allyn '66 and Meredith Schneider   

Donald '57 and Mary Lou Schwinn   

Sciame Construction, in memory of John Fitzpatrick  

Siemens Digital Industries Software 

Silverweed Foundation

Lee H. Skolnick '79 and Jo Ann Secor   

John Ben Snow Memorial Trust   

Stuart '55 and Etta Spater 

Tishman Speyer  

Robert '65 and Barbara Spindel   

Rochelle and Brian Steinwurtzel   

Henry Sterne Trust 

Eugene Stueben '61    

Solon E. Summerfield Foundation 

Ben '49 and Helene Swedowsky   

Thomas W. Synnott, III   

Sol Tanne '47 and Janice Hopkins Tanne   

James Tellefsen Jr. '77 and Martha Tellefsen   

Arthur Thomson '64   

Diane Toy '97 and Eric Fung '97   

Philip '92 and Jennifer Trahanas  

Otokar '58 and Ruth von Bradsky   

Bruce F. Waller, Parent of Greta M. Waller '06   

Rachel L. Warren, in honor of Willard L. Warren '50 and Claudette S. Warren   

Clifford '36 and Margaret Warren 

Herbert A. Weidner '49   

Paul '72 and Brinda Wiita 

Gary Williams ‘71  

Andrew ‘88 and Mary Wilson  

Jack Yogman '48   

Tony Yoshida and Sunrise Mart  

George W. Young   

Anonymous (8)

 

List in formation as of January 20, 2022.