Foundation Honors Dr. Robert H. Hill and Gordon Zuckerman for Leadership, Philanthropy

November 16, 2015

The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation recently honored two of its longtime leaders and benefactors. Gordon Zuckerman, a 1962 graduate of the college and past chairman of the Foundation board, was presented the Outstanding Philanthropist Award in recognition of his tremendous generosity to the college. Dr. Robert H. Hill II, who has served on the Dental Hygiene Advisory Board for 32 years and recently concluded 24 years on the college's Board of Trustees, was honored for his leadership and philanthropy.

The award to Zuckerman, president of Murray and Zuckerman, Inc., a nationally recognized life, health, group and wholesale annuity brokerage firm in Schenectady, recognized his commitment to civic, religious, charitable and professional organizations for more than 40 years and his inspiration of philanthropy in others. Zuckerman has been on the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation board since 2003. He was chairperson from 2013 to 2015.

In 2007, he established the Gordon N. and Linda Zuckerman scholarship in response to the college's first major fundraising campaign, The Promise of Our Region. He also established a School of Business scholarship in memory of his late wife, Linda, a business professor for 45 years at SUNY Adirondack. He is a long-time contributor to Hudson Valley's Annual Campaign and was instrumental in fundraising for the new Science Center on campus. His award was presented during the Foundation's Leadership Donors Reception on October 21.

A dentist in Averill Park, Dr. Hill was honored on Oct. 9 at the Foundation's annual gala which raised more than $120,000 for scholarships and program support. Dr. Hill was chairperson of college's inaugural gala to benefit the Dental Hygiene Department in 2006, and personally contributed to and led that fundraising effort. Last year, in recognition of his service and philanthropy, the college named its Dental Clinic in his honor.

Dr. Hill also served two terms on the college's board of trustees – initially from 1983 to 1987; he was reappointed in 1995 and served from that year until 2014. He served as vice chairman of the board of trustees from 1997 to 2003 and was chairman of the board from 2003 to 2011.