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The 29th Annual Hofstra Gala Honoring
Donald M. Schaeffer, JD, CPA
May 1, 2025

The 2025 Hofstra Gala honors Donald M. Schaeffer, JD, CPA - Chair, Hofstra University Board of Trustees. The event will take place Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Photos and Videos


Past Honorees
- 2024: David S. Mack
- 2023: Kathleen Gallo, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN
- 2022: Lawrence G. Smith, MD, MACP
- 2021: Stuart Rabinowitz
- 2020: The Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
- 2019: Robert D. Rosenthal, JD, '74
- 2018: Steven Witkoff, BA, ’80; JD, ’83
- 2017: Alan J. Bernon ’76
- 2016: Toni '63 and Martin Sosnoff
- 2015: James D'Addario '71
- 2014: Marking the Establishment of the School of Engineering and Applied Science/School of Health Sciences and Human Services
- 2013: Dr. Lawrence Herbert
- 2012: Robert & Florence Kaufman
- 2011: Leo A. Guthart & Roy J. Zuckerberg
- 2010: Joseph G. Shapiro ’54
- 2009: Peter S. Kalikow
- 2008: Scott Rechler
- 2007: Frank G. and Patricia K. Zarb
2011 Hofstra Gala Honoree:
Leo A. Guthart
Dr. Leo A. Guthart is founder and chief executive officer of Topspin Partners, LP, where he manages buyout and venture capital practices. Prior to founding Topspin Partners, Dr. Guthart served as CEO and chairman of Ademco, which he joined in 1964. Under his tenure, the company grew from a fledgling manufacturer to the Pittway Corporation Security Group, a $1.5 billion enterprise. This group encompassed the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of security systems in addition to a number of security-related businesses. Following its sale to Honeywell International in 2000, Dr. Guthart was named chairman of Honeywell’s Security and Fire Solutions Group.
In 2000 Dr. Guthart founded Topspin Partners, LP, a $213 million Long Island-based venture capital fund. Topspin Partners is the successor fund to the Long Island Venture Fund, a successful venture capital fund that began investing in 1994.
Dr. Guthart currently serves as director of AptarGroup Inc. (New York Stock Exchange), an international producer of dispensing valves, pumps and closures for pharmaceuticals and perfumes. Dr. Guthart is a founding director of the Long Island Research Institute and is the current treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He has also served as chairman of Cylink Corporation, board member of Symbol Technologies, and trustee for the Acorn Group of Mutual Funds.
Dr. Guthart received an A.B. in physics from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. He also received a doctorate from Harvard Business School with a specialty in corporate finance, and served on the Harvard Business School faculty, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow. His articles on share repurchases have been published in the Harvard Business Review, Financial Analysts Journal and The Journal of Finance.
Dr. Guthart has an exceptional record of service to Hofstra University, including serving on the University’s Board of Trustees for more than 20 years. From 1993 to 1996, Dr. Guthart served as chair of Hofstra University’s Board of Trustees, and, in 1996, he established the Leo A. Guthart Distinguished Professorship in Teaching Excellence. The Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, the site of many University programs and events, was named in Dr. Guthart’s honor in 2001. In 2010 he served on Hofstra’s 75th Anniversary Committee and was listed on the William and Kate Hofstra Honor Roll. Dr. Guthart serves as co-chair of the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine Steering Committee and is a member of the Joint Board of Overseers for the medical school. He has also established endowed and annual scholarships through the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University.
2011 Hofstra Gala Honoree:
Roy J. Zuckerberg
Roy J. Zuckerberg is currently senior director of The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., after stepping down as vice chairman of the firm, member of the executive committee, and head of the Equities Division in November 1998. He joined the firm in 1967, and in 1976, became general partner. In 2001 he created a private investment company, and in 2004 he founded Samson Capital Advisors, where he currently serves as chairman.
Mr. Zuckerberg is former chairman of the Board of Trustees and current member of the Executive Committee of North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System. In 1997, under his leadership as chairman, a groundbreaking agreement was signed to merge LIJ with North Shore Health System. This resulted in the formation of the third-largest nonprofit secular health care system in the United States.
He serves as chairman of the Board of Governors of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. Mr. Zuckerberg is also honorary chairman of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, part of The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research. The Zuckerberg Institute, now in its sixth year of operation, leads interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research and offers graduate education in water sciences, aimed at improving human well-being in drylands through technologies and policies for sustainable use of water resources. With drylands occupying more than one-third of the land surface of the earth, the work at the Zuckerberg Institute transforms the understanding and development of vital worldwide resources.
A trustee of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Mr. Zuckerberg is a director of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises Inc., Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and Mack-Cali Realty Corporation. He is former chairman of the Securities Industry Association, and chaired the Investment Committee of the University of Massachusetts Foundation from 2000 to 2009.
Mr. Zuckerberg received a B.S. from Lowell Technological Institute in 1958, and served in the United States Army. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award (June 1994), an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (1999) and, in 2002, the President’s Medal from the University of Massachusetts. Recently, Mr. Zuckerberg received a Doctor Philosophiae, honoris causa, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in recognition of his outstanding philanthropic leadership and commitment to the university and its academic mission.
2020 Hofstra Gala Honoree:
The Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
2013 Hofstra Gala Honoree:
Dr. Lawrence Herbert
2012 Hofstra Gala Honorees:
Robert & Florence Kaufman
Frank G. and Patricia K. Zarb
11th Annual Hofstra Gala Honorees
Patricia K. Zarb is a former reading specialist, classroom teacher, and admissions officer with a B.S. in Education from Hofstra University as well as an M.S. in Learning Disabilities-Reading, Professional Diploma in Reading and (almost) Ph.D. in Cognition, Language and Reading. Like her husband, Pat is celebrating her 50th anniversary of her graduation from Hofstra in May 2007. Chair for three years, she continues to serve on the board of the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Center at Hofstra University. Pat has been a member of the board since its inception 14 years ago. The Center encompasses a Child Care Institute, Psychological Evaluation Research and Counseling Clinic, a Reading/Writing Learning Clinic, Speech/Language/Hearing Clinic and a Marriage and Family Clinic.
Frank G. Zarb is an internationally renowned leader in the financial services industry. He has served as Chair and CEO of the National Association of Securities Dealers, as chair and CEO of the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (a NASD company), as Chairman, CEO and President of Alexander & Alexander Services, Inc., Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive of The Travelers, Inc., Chairman and CEO of Smith Barney, and a senior partner of Lazard Freres & Co.
From 1974 through 1977, Frank was the senior official for all US government energy-related activities, serving as Executive Director of the Cabinet-level Energy Resources Council, Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, and Assistant to the President for Energy Affairs (the “Energy Czar”). He led the nation’s energy response to the first major oil embargo. Prior to those appointments, he had been Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 1973 to 1974 and served as Assistant Secretary of Labor between 1971 and 1972. He has served in various assignments with the Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations.
Currently he serves as Managing Director and Senior Advisor to Hellman & Friedman LLC. He is also Non- Executive Chairman of the Promontory Financial Group. He is a former Chairman of the NYSE Nominating Committee and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation.
Frank has also served as chairman of several state agencies and commissions, including the Long Island Power Authority, the NYS Commission on Education Reform and the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority. He was a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness in New York City. Governor Pataki appointed him to the Board of Directors of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, an organization charged with overseeing the development of the Downtown New York City area following the September 11th World Trade Center attacks.
He is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Hofstra University, where he still serves as a Board member. Hofstra named its business school after him.
Frank, who earned his B.S. and M.B.A. degrees in business from Hofstra University, in 1957 and 1962, respectively, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by the University and the school’s Outstanding Scholar Award. The Georgetown University McDonough School of Business conferred an Honorary Doctorate on him in 2000.
Pat and Frank were married in their senior year at Hofstra, March 31, 1957.
Hofstra 2010 Gala Honoree:
Joseph G. Shapiro ’54
Joseph G. Shapiro ’54 earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at Hofstra University and is a member of Epsilon Sigma fraternity. He also served in the United States Army and saw active duty in Korea.
Mr. Shapiro held numerous business and professional positions during his career, including: director emeritus of Fleet Bank; director of the Long Island Association, Inc. and Oil Heat Institute of Long Island; chairman of the Long Island Heart Council, American Heart Association, Inc., Glen Cove Zoning Board of Appeals, and New York State Joint Legislative Committee of Environmental Management of Natural Resources; board member of the Broward Sheriff’s Advisory Council; and member of the Royal Knights of Chivalry.
Mr. Shapiro is currently chairman and CEO of Commander Enterprises, LLC and president and CEO of Commander Oil Corporation. He is also co-chairman of TXX Services, Inc. and a partner in Kennesaw Fruit & Juice Company. In addition, Mr. Shapiro remains very active in his community and has served in leadership roles for a number of organizations,including the committee for Hofstra’s 2004 Gala honoring Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman (which was successful in funding a chair in Catholic studies), N.Y.S. L.I. Sound Advisory Commission, N.Y.S. Boating Council, North Shore-LIJ Health System, and the Congregation Tifereth Israel of Glen Cove, New York. Mr. Shapiro is affiliated with the Coral Ridge Country Club, Ocean Reef Club, and Coral Ridge Yacht Club. He has been honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, American Heart Association, Inc., and Family Service Association, and is the recipient of the prestigious Hofstra University Award for Alumni Achievement and the 1989 Hofstra George M. Estabrook Award.
On September 1, 2004, Hofstra University dedicated the Libby and Joseph G. Shapiro Alumni House, which serves as a symbol of their loyalty and generosity to Hofstra. Together, the Shapiros have established the Libby and Joseph Shapiro Endowed Distinguished Academic Scholarship and the Eva and Benjamin Shapiro Memorial Scholarship at Hofstra University. They have also created the Joseph and Libby Shapiro Family Foundation, which generously donates to educational and religious institutions, and health and civic organizations.
Mr. Shapiro has been married to his wife, Libby, a fellow Hofstra graduate, for 57 years. Libby and Joseph Shapiro have known each other since the age of 10, having lived across the street from one another. Consequently, they both attended the same elementary school, high school and college. The Shapiros have four children, Susan, Leonard, Beth and Carol, and seven grandchildren.