Touro Founder Dies

dr. bernard lander, founder and sole president of touro college, died feb. 8 at the age of 94, due to congestive heart failure. touro's lander college for women, at west 60th street, is a part of the network of schools that lander founded in his mission to provide quality, faith-based higher education to the jewish community.

the eldest of three children, lander was born to polish immigrants david lander and goldie teitelbaum in manhattan on june 17, 1915. he grew up downtown, where his father worked in the garment industry. after attending the talmudical academy, yeshiva college's affiliate high school, lander continued his studies at yeshiva college and graduated with honors in 1936. he studied for his rabbinical ordination at the rabbi issac elchaan theological seminary and was ordained in 1938. he began pursuing a doctorate in sociology from columbia university that same year, while serving as a rabbi in baltimore at beth jacob congregation.

in 1944, lander finished his degree and returned to live in new york to teach sociology full time at hunter college, which he continued for two decades. during that time, he also served as a consultant to the new york city youth board, and he worked to reorganize and develop graduate programs at yeshiva university.

lander married sarah shragowitz, the daughter of the rabbi of port chester, n.y., in 1948. the family lived in forest hills, queens, where they raised their four children until sarah passed away in 1995. she was a big supporter of her husband's mission to provide quality jewish education.

as a scholar and a rabbi, lander believed that jewish studies should be combined with secular education to give jews the opportunity to earn a living and support their families with dignity. it was on this principle that he built touro college, starting with a single college of 35 students in 1971 in midtown, and expanding to 29 schools throughout the world. touro college now serves 17,500 students in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in new york, california, nevada, florida, israel, russia, germany and france. the lander college for women opened in 1974 on the upper west side.

dr. stanley boylan, vice president of undergraduate education and dean of faculties at touro, worked with lander since 1976.

"the president was able to innovate and to find new avenues in which he could serve the community," boylan said.

he added that lander was heavily involved in the college's recent acquisition of new york medical college, and that he insisted on working as long as he was able.

"on a human level, i think many people were dedicated to him because he was loyal to them," boylan said.

lander is survived by his brother, nathan, and his four children: esther greenfield, hannah lander, debbie waxman and rabbi daniel lander; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

alan kadish, m.d., senior provost and chief operating officer at touro, will succeed lander as president.