Rene Lichtman A'63

Rene Lichtman passed away at 87 years old in the Detroit area, which he called home for over 50 years. Rene was a Holocaust survivor, artist, and activist, and was passionate about his work in all of those fields. As one of the founders and leaders of the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust, Rene dedicated his life to Holocaust education and sharing his story.

To read his full obituary, please click here.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.