Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center

The building was originally constructed by the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity (DKE) to serve as a chapter house in 1903. At the time of its opening, DKE fraternity brothers described the house as “the newest and finest chapter house at Syracuse.” The house included an impressive three-store facade of red Akron brick with bay windows, sills, and trimmings of pure white Vermont marble, stained glass windows, rich oak interiors, paneled walls, and beamed ceilings.

SU bought the house after the DKE fraternity moved out in January of 1974. SU remodeled the building to include accommodations for meetings, lunches, and casual relaxation. The building was reopened as the new Faculty Center in September of 1974. The building was temporarily closed in 1996 to undergo major renovations, including modernizing the interior to bring it up to current building codes, expanding the facility to become the new home of the Office of Alumni Relations, and adding a brick patio for the front porch. The building was rededicated to Alfred R. and Ann Lubin Goldstein, Class of 1948, and reopened in 1997 as the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center.

Alfred “AI” R. Goldstein was born on October 16th, 1924 in Seagate, New York, the only child of Nathan and Besse Goldstein, first generation Americans. He was schooled in Brooklyn, NY and at the age of eighteen volunteered for the army. He conducted reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines as part of the 3rd Mechanized Cavalry and was eventually wounded. Goldstein recuperated in England for 3.5 months, returned to his unit, and was wounded again. After the war, Goldstein completed his Civil Engineering Degree in June 1947 from Cornell University. He married Ann Lubin one week later and they had three children. He began his career with the New York architectural firm of Harrison & Abromovich and was assigned to the construction of the United Nations Building in 1947. In 1951 he founded Elk Realty, a private real-estate development, sales and management firm, based in New York. He self-funded his own store-front property, built and sold it. This initiated his real-estate career. In 1956 he built his first apartment building of 172 units (a 2-year project) which he owned until 1986, during which time he owned/managed other properties, including office buildings, apartments, houses and hotels.

His philanthropy began when he established his own foundation in 1955, named for him and his late wife Ann. Goldstein served on the Board of Syracuse University for 20 years. He named the Alumni Building, the Auditorium in the Student Center on South Campus and the School of Accounting. He also served on the board of Pace University, New College Foundation, Mote Marine Laboratories, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and Ringling College, among others.

Dr. Goldstein has 3 honorary doctoral degrees, including a Doctor of Humane Letters from Syracuse University, a Doctor of Commercial Science from Pace University, and a Doctor of Art from Ringling College of Art and Design. He was married to Ann Lubin Goldstein for 63 years. Ann passed away in April 2011. He remarried Jean Allenby Weidner, a friend of 30 years. Just days before his passing, the mayor of Sarasota proclaimed June 16th, 2017 as 'Alfred Goldstein Day'.

SU University Archives; “Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center." University Archives: Buildings of SU. Gorney, J. (2006). Syracuse University: An Architectural Guide. SU Press. Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center Restaurant website “Alfred R. ‘AL’ Goldstein.” (2017, June 27). Herald Tribune; SU Photo and Imaging Center.