Two Syracuse University alumni -- both of whom have celebrated their 50th class reunion -- will be honored with Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Awards this fall. Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric F. Spina and Wally Bobkiewicz, president of the SU Alumni Association, will present Marshall M. Gelfand '50, with his award in a ceremony during the Half-Century Dinner, to be held Oct. 11 during Homecoming + Reunion Weekend. Robert S. Rosenthal '53 will be presented with the award at a ceremony later this fall in Connecticut.
Marshall M. Gelfand '50
Marshall Gelfand, of Rancho Mirage, Calif., received a bachelor's degree from the School of Management. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War, and graduated from New York University Law School in 1956.
He is the founder and a partner in Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman, LLP, the largest international business management firm in the entertainment industry, which has represented celebrities such as Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, James Taylor, Carly Simon and Debra Winger.
Gelfand was appointed to SU's Board of Trustees in 1983 and became an emeritus trustee in 1993. He currently serves as a member of the board's student affairs committee. Gelfand was instrumental in the establishment of Syracuse University in Los Angeles, the University's presence on the West Coast, and serves on the board of directors of the Southern California Alumni Club.
He served on the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center fundraising committee and is chairman emeritus of his fraternity, the Eta chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu. He has been the driving force behind the numerous scholarships funded by the fraternity and has funded two major scholarships at Syracuse in his own name. In 1996, Gelfand's achievements were recognized by his alma mater with a George Arents Pioneer Medal.
In Southern California, Gelfand is active in numerous civic and cultural organizations. He is president of the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center and past president of the Palm Springs Friends of the Philharmonic. He is currently chair of the museum endowment fund for the Palm Springs Art Museum and treasurer of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Gelfand is also on the national board of the Alzheimer's Association and the board of the Coachella Valley Alzheimer's Association, and is the creator of the Judy Fund, which has raised $2.9 million for Alzheimer's research, care and advocacy in memory of his late wife.
Robert S. Rosenthal '53
Robert Rosenthal, of West Hartford, Conn., received a bachelor's degree in history and journalism cum laude from The College of Arts and Sciences and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Following his graduation from SU, he served in the military in the Korean War from 1953-55. Until his retirement several years ago, he was the president of retail hardware for Roth's Hardware Co. in West Hartford.
Rosenthal is being recognized with the Eggers Award for his more than 40 years of service to SU's Connecticut Alumni Club. He joined the club in the 1960s and served as president for 14 years. He currently serves as treasurer.
"Bob has been the driving force in keeping our club healthy," says Stan Kontogiannis, a fellow Connecticut club member who nominated Rosenthal for the award. "He drives all over the state to participate in events and is a true ambassador for Syracuse University. He is a genuine man with a heart of gold and the backbone of our club."
In 1988, Rosenthal established an endowed scholarship fund at Syracuse, directing that the scholarship be awarded to a student majoring in history. He has also been an intensely loyal supporter of Syracuse Athletics. He is a long-time member of the Orange Club and the Dave Bing and Ernie Davis clubs, has supported many other sports, and regularly attends Syracuse football games. He is unable to attend the Half-Century Dinner to receive his award, but plans are under way to present it to him at a ceremony in Connecticut.
