Samuel J. LeFrak

Born in New York City in 1918, Samuel J. LeFrak had been president of the LeFrak Organization from 1948 until he was named chairman in 1975, a position he retained until he passed away in April 2003. Founded in 1901 by Sam LeFrak’s father, Harry LeFrak, the LeFrak Organization is among the largest private building firms in the world, and is known for its commitment to affordable housing and responsible community development.

A significant area of his Company's interests lie in oil and gas exploration throughout the United States, undertaken by LOGO, the Lefrak Oil and Gas Organization.

In addition, the LeFrak Entertainment Company develops and produces records; Broadway plays, musicals, TV productions, and motion pictures, and is a book and music publisher as well.

A discerning art collector since his early 20s, Mr. LeFrak had succeeded in assembling a distinguished and diverse collection of paintings and sculpture, including primitive, classical, impressionist, post-impressionist, and contemporary works. His collection had been made available to museums throughout the world.

Mr. LeFrak was a Trustee of the Guggenheim Museum; an Advisory Director of the Metropolitan Opera; a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Queens College Foundation; and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, Mr. LeFrak pursued postgraduate studies at Columbia and Harvard Universities; and had been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Pratt Institute, New York Law School, Colgate University, Michigan State University, Queens College, St. John's University and the University of Maryland.

Mr. LeFrak’s service on numerous boards of civic and public organizations; his tenure as visiting lecturer at major universities in the United States and abroad, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Oxford; and his receipt of scores of awards and commendations, were testaments to his ability, his concern for his fellow man, and his dedication to excellence.

Mr. LeFrak had served his country, too, including six Presidents, seven Governors and eight New York City Mayors, in various capacities, including United States delegate to the International Conference on Housing and Urban Development in Geneva; as a Special Consultant for the State Department; and as a member of the United States National Energy Council. He served New York State and New York City as Commissioner of the Saratoga Springs Commission; as Landmarks Preservation Commissioner of New York; Commissioner of the Interstate Sanitation Commission for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut; as a member of the New York Task Force on Housing; the New York City Industrial Development Corporation; and the Executive Committee on the Citizens Committee for New York City. He also was a founder of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

Among Mr. LeFrak's many awards were recognition and honors from a spectrum of international societies, philanthropies, and cultural and educational institutions, such as being Knighted a Knight Commander by the King of Norway and receiving that Nation's Royal Order of Merit; being Knighted a Knight Commander by the King of Sweden and receiving Sweden's Royal Order of the North Star; being Knighted a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government; and being presented the Medal of Parliament and the Order of the Lion from the President of Finland; the Jerusalem 3000 Medal from the State of Israel Bond; the Knights of Malta Cross of Merit and Honor; the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit from the Republic of Italy; the John F. Kennedy Peace Award; Man of the Year Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Man of the Year Award from Queens College; Annual Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews; The Flame of Truth Award from the Fund for Higher Education; and elected to the Hall of Fame of the National Sales Executive Club.

On several occasions Mr. LeFrak had been honored by having his speeches entered into the United States Congressional Record for the Senate and the House of Representatives, such as the keynote address he made at the United Nations during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Achievements: “Accepting the Challenge of a Changing World.”

Mr. LeFrak's long-term affiliation and support of the United Nations, moreover, earned him a number of distinguished awards and recognitions. In 1988, Mr. LeFrak and former U.S. president Jimmy Carter were honored by the United Nations because of their world-wide work with “Habitat International.” The same year, Mr. LeFrak presented an address on “Planning for Urbanization in the 21st Century” at the United Nations. The "Distinguished Citizens of the World" award was presented to Mr. and Mrs. LeFrak at a special United Nations Ambassador's Ball in 1994. In 1994, Mr. LeFrak also was appointed by the Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali as New York's representative and member of the Advisory Group for the 1995 50th Anniversary Celebration of the United Nations.

At Michigan State University, a new school – the LeFrak Forum – has been established to foster studies supporting Western civilization and culture, democratic political principles, and American free enterprise business systems and strategies.

In 1999, Crain's Magazine selected Dr. LeFrak as among the 100 most important New Yorkers whose works during the past 400 years contributed significantly to the City's cultural and economic success and its role as the World's capital.

(The above information was written solely by The LeFrak Organziation.)