Estate and Planned Gifts

We are grateful for the thoughtful generosity of the following people who made tax-planned charitable gifts or whose estate gifts were received during FY 2010. These gifts offer an opportunity to meet a variety of financial goals while helping The Cooper Union maintain its academic programs over the long term.

The Society of 1859
Benefactors who include The Cooper Union in their financial or estate plans, contribute to the general endowment of the college or establish a named endowment fund, become members of The Society of 1859. Through their commitment they ensure the resources to provide full-tuition scholarships for all admitted students. Their gifts sustain the values of excellence and opportunity set forth in 1859 by Peter Cooper.
The individuals listed below informed Cooper Union of their bequest intention during FY 2010.

Charles Ashman '59
Judith Batterman and Steven Batterman '59
Lia Vodga Brillhart '60
Carla Diana '89
Fred Flaschentrager '53
George Keeber '76
Mary Lou Littrell '60
Raymond Luke
Ivan Nelson '60
Bruce Pasternack '68
Debra Samuels and Richard Samuels
William Setzler '50
Bernice Shapiro '52 and Leonard Shapiro  
Robert Spindel '65
Michael Spronck '49
Robert Tieni '80
Cynthia Weiler and E. Blake Moore, Jr.
Anthony Yoseloff

Charitable Gift Annuities
Judith Batterman and Steven Batterman '57
Mary Lou Littrell '60
Deborah Samuels and Richard Samuels
Bernice Shapiro '52 and Leonard Shapiro

IRA Rollover Gifts
Lenard Berkowitz '53
Faith Dean and Marvin Dean '49
Leonard Goldman '46
Don Ifshin '54
Alex Katz '49
Edgar Luber '53
Stanley Seroka '53
Lawrence Shayer '52
Dale Zand '45

Bequests*
David Ackerman '49
Frank Balacek '33
Jacob Brockley 1893
Josephine Burns '39
Ima Donovan and Frank Donovan
Daniel Eisen
Esther Gould and Jack Gould '27
Virginia Kester '48
Helmuth Knapp '50
Frederick Lebowitz '56
Nellie Luckner and Leo Luckner '36
Edward Owen '42

  • 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.