The College will host a formal dedication ceremony for
Lippman Hall at noon on Saturday, Oct. 29, to highlight Homecoming and Family Weekend.
A $3 million gift from Jim Lippman ’79 and his wife, Linda, supported a major renovation of the former Social Sciences building, one of the most heavily used academic buildings on campus.
The building, which opened in 1967, has been renamed Lippman Hall in honor of Jim Lippman’s father, Robert G. Lippman ’50. Robert retired as director of marketing for Campus Sportswear. He also worked with Cove Point Realty in Oyster Bay, N.Y., which was founded by his wife, Barbara. At Union, Robert was a member of Phi Sigma Delta, the Interfraternity Council and Student Council. He received a bachelor of arts in economics.
“The Lippmans have been fiercely loyal to the College and they represent many of the qualities we prize in the Union family,” said President Stephen C. Ainlay. “Their generosity has helped transform the learning environment for our students and faculty. It is only fitting that we rename the building to honor their legacy at the College.”
Lippman Hall is home to the departments of Economics, Sociology, Political
Science and History. The building features seven modern classrooms, an airy and open entryway, a new first-floor study room, spaces for student/faculty interaction and two specially designed seminar rooms fully equipped with presentation hardware and software. It also contains updated faculty offices.
In any given week in the building, more than 40 faculty members collectively spend more than 3,000 hours with students, who are taught to think and write critically, analyze and solve problems, and become thoughtful, engaged citizens.
“Nothing could be greater than to honor my dad, who also happens to be my idol, in front of all of his friends and family at an institution that means so much to both of us,” Lippman said.
Lippman is the chairman and CEO of JRK Property Holdings, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate firm he founded in 1992. The company has 1,500 employees and manages a portfolio valued at more than $5 billion, with over $450 million in annual revenues.
At Union, Lippman was a member of the Economic Honor Society and the men’s varsity tennis team, and a coach for the women’s varsity tennis team. He earned his bachelor of arts in economics and political science. A longtime supporter of the College, he was awarded the Alumni Gold Medal in 2004 for “passionate and dedicated commitment to Union.”
A member of the College’s Board of Trustees, Lippman has also served as the chairman of the 25th Class ReUnion and the Annual Fund Leadership Committee.
Jim Lippman and his wife have three children: Alexandra, Matthew ’13 and Daniel. Other Lippmans who are members of the Union family are Jim’s brother, Donald ’82, who majored in history and his niece, Meredith Lippman ’09.
The gift from Jim and Linda Lippman comes during the College’s $250 million You are Union campaign, which has raised more than $225 million to date and will be completed in 2012.