Former University Trustee Lawrence (Larry) Nussdorf (W’68) died on November 13. He was 74.

Born in Neptune, NJ, Mr. Nussdorf received a BS in economics in 1968 from Wharton, and later a JD from Rutgers University and an LLM in tax law from Georgetown University. Mr. Nussdorf began his career at Arthur Andersen, LLP, before moving to Washington, DC with his wife Melanie (CW’71) and, in 1977, joining Clark Enterprises. Mr. Nussdorf served as President, CFO and COO at Clark Enterprises for many years before becoming Chairman and CEO in 2014. During Mr. Nussdorf’s tenure at Clark Enterprises, he helped shape one of Washington DC’s largest private companies, which constructed and invested in much of the city’s built environment, including sports arenas, hospitals, mixed-use destinations and Metro stations. Under Mr. Nussdorf’s leadership, Clark Enterprises became one of Washington’s top philanthropic corporations, donating millions of dollars to charity each year.

As a Penn Trustee, Mr. Nussdorf brought expertise to the Trustees’ Audit & Compliance and Facilities & Campus Planning Committees thanks to his background as an attorney and certified public accountant and experience in real estate and construction. In 2004, Mr. Nussdorf was a founding member of the Advisory Board of the Penn Institute for Urban Research, and Clark Enterprises endowed a chair at Penn IUR in Mr. Nussdorf’s honor (Almanac September 21, 2004). As an advocate for public education, Mr. Nussdorf was a member and former Vice Chair of the Graduate School of Education Board of Advisors. He also served as President of Penn’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Advisory Board and a member of the Agenda for Excellence Council and the Advisory Board of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. Mr. and Mrs. Nussdorf established the Nussdorf Endowed Scholarship and the Melanie and Lawrence Nussdorf Endowed Scholarship for Students in the School of Nursing. They also provided support to numerous other departments at Penn.

Mr. Nussdorf was active in the Penn Alumni community: In addition to serving as a long-time member of the Class of 1968 Gift Committee, Mr. Nussdorf was an Honorary Vice President of the Class of 1968 and served on the Executive Committee of the Penn Alumni Board of Directors. In 2010, Mr. Nussdorf’s service to Penn earned him the Alumni Award of Merit, the highest award presented by Penn Alumni given in recognition of outstanding service to the University. His wife Melanie also received the award in 2001. “Larry was devoted to the University of Pennsylvania from the moment he stepped on our campus and he became one of Penn’s most loyal alumni,” said David Cohen, chair of Penn’s Board of Trustees. “Larry was widely known and active in myriad causes on campus and in the Washington, DC area, where he was a superb ambassador for Penn. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.” In 1998, Mr. Nussdorf received the Joseph Wharton Award from The Wharton Alumni Club of Washington, DC.

Mr. Nussdorf served on the Board of directors of Pepco Holdings and Leidos Holdings. He was active in civic life in Washington, DC, including serving as a member of the executive committee for the Anti-Defamation League (DC chapter), a Trustee of WETA and the United Jewish Endowment Fund of Greater Washington, and a Director of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. In 2017, The Clark Foundation established The A. James Clark Scholars Program in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Penn. Mr. Nussdorf also served on the boards of the Washington Scholarship Fund, the public radio station WETA, and DC Prep.

Mr. Nussdorf is survived by his wife of 48 years, Melanie Franco Nussdorf; two sons, Jed (ENG’02, W’02, WG’03)(Sarah) and Benjamin (Inna)(both C’04); five grandchildren; his brother, Andy (Rhonda) and sister, Ellie, and many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mr. Nussdorf’s memory to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington or the Institute for Urban Research at Penn.