A friend and benefactor
The Board of Trustees of the Sister Rose Thering Fund for Jewish-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University joins us in mourning the passing of our friend and benefactor, Eric Ross (“Eric Ross, benefactor of local and global renown, dies at 91,” Sept. 16). Like Seton Hall University itself, one of the non-Jewish organizations he believed in, we are among the many recipients of Eric’s philanthropy.
In 2007 Eric and Lore joined Leon and Toby Cooperman in establishing the Cooperman/Ross Endowed Professorship in Jewish-Christian Studies in honor of Sister Rose Thering. This amazing gift — a total of $3 million — brought Rabbi Alan Brill of Teaneck to our campus. Rabbi Brill, whose area of specialization includes interfaith relations, modern Orthodoxy, and Jewish intellectual history, has developed a following of students who have swelled the ranks of the graduate program in Jewish-Christian Studies.
Seton Hall University has also benefitted from Eric Ross’ generosity since he donated a significant scholarship earmarked for chemistry students at the time the university honored him at Commencement in May 2010.
We were honored and humbled to have met Eric and Lore, will miss them both, and join the millions in the local and international community who mourn his passing.
David Bossman, PhD
Executive Director
Professor of Jewish-Christian Studies
Paul Gibbons
Chairman of the Board
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