Resolution renaming Campus Drive to Richard L. Gelfond Drive in recognition of lifetime achievement and contributions to advance the mission of Stony Brook University 

WHEREAS, Richard L. Gelfond was born and raised in Plainview, Long Island; and 

WHEREAS, Richard L. Gelfond earned his bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University in 1976, and then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern School of Law in 1979; and 

WHEREAS, Richard L. Gelfond served as a law clerk for the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals and later worked as a lawyer at Cleary Gotlieb and then as an investment banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert; and 

WHEREAS, always an entrepreneur at heart, Richard L. Gelfond founded a chain of stores on Long Island; and 

WHEREAS, in 1994, Richard L. Gelfond and his investment firm acquired IMAX, and he became the co-CEO in 1996 and CEO in 2009; and 

WHEREAS, under his guidance, IMAX has become a major force in the movie and entertainment space, causing great success and notoriety of the company; and 

WHEREAS, in 1988, Richard L. Gelfond became Chairman of the Stony Brook Foundation, the non-for-profit entity that raises funds to support the mission of his alma mater, Stony Brook University; and 

WHEREAS, under his leadership, the Stony Brook Foundation has raised over $2 billion to support student scholarships, endowed professorships, significant capital projects and other efforts which have helped placed Stony Brook University as one of the top research universities in the nation; and 

WHEREAS, in recognition of his lifetime of achievement, Richard L. Gelfond was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Leters in 2004; 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STONY BROOK COUNCIL, THAT: 

In recognition of Richard L. Gelfond’s achievements and exemplary service to Stony Brook University, Campus Drive on the main campus of Stony Brook University will be known now and hereafter as Richard L. Gelfond Drive and directs the campus to make all appropriate changes to its maps and literature reflecting this name. 

The Stony Brook Council authorizes Chair, Kevin Law, to transmit this resolution to the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York. 

July 9, 2025