Gerald (Gerry) Cramer Z”L
Gerry was a leading figure in the world of investment in the United States, known also for his generous contributions and his many public commitments. Gerry was co-founder and chair emeritus of the investment advisory firm Cramer, Rosenthal & McGlynn, LLC. He was also associated with the investment brokerage houses Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., and Oppenheimer & Co. where he was a senior partner. His civic and professional commitments include membership on the boards of the National Road Safety Foundation and Ripplewood Corporation, a major private equity firm. Cramer also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.
A graduate of Syracuse University’s School of Management, Gerry served for many years on the Executive Committee of the university’s Board of Trustees. In this capacity he served terms both as Vice Chairman and as Chairman of the Board’s Investment and Endowment Committee.
Gerry was a major benefactor of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, sponsoring Cramer Scholarships that have helped dozens of students to receive an academic education. Today, many distinguished faculty members at Syracuse hold the title of Cramer Professor. He also established the endowment fund that supports the university’s Aging Studies Institute. For his contributions, Gerry was selected as the first recipient of the Maxwell School Horizon Award, which recognizes wise, inspirational volunteer leadership and exceptional philanthropic commitment.
Gerry also received numerous other awards in recognition of his contributions. Syracuse University, of which he is an alumnus, awarded him the George Arents Pioneer Medal for outstanding accomplishments and Grand Canyon University awarded him an honorary doctorate in finance.
Throughout his life, Gerry lived in both New York and Israel. During one of his stays in Israel, Gerry met Prof. Uriel Reichman, who told him about the establishment of the first private Israeli university. Enthused by the idea, the place and the initiative, Gerry wanted to become involved and support the institution.
Serving on the Board of Directors at Syracuse University in New York, Gerry helped forge a connection between the schools of government of these two leading academic institutions. This fruitful relationship, strengthened and continues to this day, and has produced extraordinary initiatives and collaborations. The most prominent program is the student exchange program, which gives Israeli students the opportunity to live in the United States and experience American academic thinking and learning at one of the best schools of government in the country, and brings Syracuse students to Israel to experience all that it has to offer and exposes them to the unique academic setting of Reichman University’s Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy.
