Lillian Slutzker, a vital figure in the Syracuse University community for more than two decades, died on Aug. 18 at the age of 98. Her funeral will be held in Syracuse on Wednesday.

Slutzker, a native of Hungary, moved to Syracuse in 1947 — three years after meeting her husband, Emanuel, in Wales, according to an SU News release. He was serving in the United States Army while she was a refugee from Budapest. The couple married the same year and in 1949 they opened Manny’s, an athletic apparel store, which they owned and operated until 1995.

In December 1997, Slutzker established the Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Endowed Men’s Lacrosse Scholarships with her $600,000 donation, according to the release. At the time it was the largest gift to be made toward the lacrosse program and to this day continues to endow two scholarships.

However, Slutzker is best known for her generosity to the university, primarily her $1.9 million gift in 1999, which she put toward naming and supporting the Lilian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services, according to the release.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Lillian’s loved ones and with all of our students, faculty and staff who were touched by Lillian’s generosity and friendship,” said SU Chancellor Kent Syverud in the release. “She has left a tremendous legacy in Syracuse and at Syracuse University.”

The Slutzker Center is the go-to place at SU for international students and faculty. For many the center is like a “home away from home,” according to the release. It has aided thousands of international students in their transition to living in the United States.

The center also serves as the official liaison with U.S. immigration offices for non-immigrants at SU, according to the release.

“I love this country,” Slutzker said in an interview with Syracuse University Magazine in 1999. “With this gift, I can give others the opportunity to know and appreciate it.”

Patricia Burak, director of the Slutzker Center, said in the release that when the center was dedicated in October 2000, Slutzker spoke emotionally about the dream she had as a young woman to get a university education, a dream which was not fulfilled due to the Holocaust.

Burak said in the release that Slutzker didn’t just want a building that was named after her, she wanted to provide support for students and and visiting scholars. Slutzker took it upon herself to direct the refurbishment of the reception area of the center to make it more warm and welcoming.

Slutzker took it upon herself to get to know students, even volunteering at the center for years as an English conversation group leader in order to help students speak more fluently and confidently. She also contributed to them becoming more familiar with the American culture, even hosting a Thanksgiving dinner in collaboration with the Slutzker Center and Hendricks Chapel, Burak said in the release.

“Lillian was truly the shining, golden thread in the fabric of the Slutzker Center,” Burak said in the release.

Slutzker in conjunction with the center was recognized by the International Center of Syracuse in 2010 for her contribution to international students worldwide, according to the release.

Published on August 24, 2016 at 10:26 am

Contact Stacy: sfern100@syr.edu | @StacyFernandezB