A Lasting Tribute: Stony Brook Honors Rich Gelfond ’76 With Campus Street Naming

The State University of New York at Stony Brook has named a campus street for Rich Gelfond ’76 in recognition of his decades of leadership, philanthropy and unwavering commitment to the university. Campus Drive has been renamed Richard L. Gelfond Drive — a symbolic tribute to an alumnus and volunteer leader whose influence continues to shape the institution’s future.

As chair of the Stony Brook Foundation Board of Trustees, Gelfond has helped guide the university’s strategic growth while championing initiatives that expand opportunity and elevate excellence. The CEO of IMAX Corp. has supported Stony Brook for nearly 40 years, including significant investments in the Turkana Basin Institute, the Women’s Leadership Council, the Pollock-Krasner House and the Stars of Stony Brook Gala, benefiting student scholarships. He also established the Richard L. Gelfond Endowed Fund for Research on the Health Effects of Mercury Exposure to advance scientific understanding of methylmercury accumulation in human diets and its effects on human health.

“Rich Gelfond represents the very best of Stony Brook and has been a critical partner for me in the early days of my presidency,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. “His leadership, vision, wisdom and generosity have been transformative, helping us expand our reach, deepen our impact and serve our community as well as this great state through our education, research and healthcare. This naming honors not just his legacy, but the values he continues to champion — excellence, innovation, access and service.”

While Gelfond has spent years traveling the globe introducing audiences to the IMAX experience, his roots have always remained at Stony Brook. In fact, he is proud that he was the first person in his family to attend college and praises the great and affordable education he received at the university. “I put myself through college. My parents didn’t have any money and I couldn’t have afforded to go to a private school at that point,” Gelfond said in his 2014 Stony Brook University Magazine profile. “Without an excellent school like Stony Brook, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

The university itself was a work in progress in the early 1970s when Gelfond arrived on campus — with mud everywhere due to the building construction and the never-completed “bridge to nowhere” — but it was where Gelfond thrived. He was a sports editor on The Statesman and was the first student elected to the Stony Brook Council. He was able to graduate in three years by taking 18 credits a semester and summer classes. Upon graduation, he continued on to law school and began a career in law and investment banking, as well as entrepreneurial activities. 

In 1994, Gelfond and his business partner, Brad Wechsler, bought IMAX. Originally, they intended to hire a CEO to run it or sell it after a few years. However, after taking the company public, Gelfond realized he liked running the business, so he stayed on as CEO. He led the company’s transformation from one that originally specialized in nature films for museums and theme parks into one that delivers popular hits in IMAX format in multiplexes around the world.

Gelfond has remained grateful for the opportunities Stony Brook provided, and he credits his time here, as well as mentors like former Stony Brook President John Toll, for shaping his path as a successful business leader. “Stony Brook gave me the foundation to think critically, lead boldly and give back meaningfully,” he said. “It’s where I learned what it means to build something that lasts. I’m proud to be a part of a university that continues to change lives and expand possibilities.”

For over 30 years, Gelfond has worked with university presidents as chair of the Stony Brook Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has raised and manages more than $1 billion for the university. His focus has always remained on helping young people achieve their dreams, which begin with a strong education. “I want to make a difference for those talented students from lower economic precincts who need mentoring, guidance, scholarships and a way to gain the same skills I did that led to my success,” Gelfond said. “For me, the Stony Brook experience is something that I want to repay.”

“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Rich Gelfond for many years as a trusted friend, a fellow Stony Brook alumni and champion and as a dedicated colleague on the Stony Brook Foundation Board,” said Marilyn Simons ’74, PhD ’84. “His visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to the university have left an indelible mark on its trajectory. The naming of a campus street in his honor is a meaningful recognition of his enduring contributions to Stony Brook and the broader academic community.”

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In 2004, Stony Brook awarded Gelfond an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his contributions that helped to further research and environmental studies at the university. The naming of Richard L. Gelfond Drive serves as a visible reminder of the university’s continued partnership with its alumni and the vital role they play in shaping its future. It stands as a tribute to leadership, service and the lasting influence of those who continue to elevate Stony Brook’s mission through their work, their generosity and their example.

-Christine McGrath