By Jeff Lerman, E94

For 25 years, my dad wore a Tufts shirt, sweatshirt, hat or jacket almost every day. Not that he didn’t often wear Tufts gear before he retired from Polaroid in 1999 – just that he was almost never without it afterwards.

I grew up immersed in Tufts. In 1989, when I applied for admission to Tufts, I couldn’t get an unbiased interview since Dad ran the local interviewing committee. So I went to Tufts for an interview instead—with his friend and E65 classmate Allen Clemow. As a student, my friends and I were often treated to pizza on Hillside, since Dad played an active role in the Tufts Alumni Council and the Tufts University Alumni Association. Dad had such a huge Tufts connection that I have to remember that my mom was BSOT67 as well!

Dad wrote that he reconnected with Tufts and his classmates in 1979 and chaired the class reunion committee from that point onward. I remember hearing the names of Susan Bruce, Marcia Miller, Sharon Halverson and others many times over the years. In 2008, we set up tufts65.com and I started putting time into helping him communicate reunion plans with his Tufts ’65 classmates. He wrote “I think the skills I gained at Polaroid allowed me to contribute [to reunion planning]. I am most grateful to have had that opportunity.”

Susan and Marcia were joined by other Tufts friends at his funeral. Four days later, Susan reached out to let me know that she, Marcia and Sharon had spoken to Tufts about setting up a scholarship in Dad’s name. Many months later, we’ve set up the Elliott Lerman Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund as the official reunion giving challenge for the Class of 1965. Dad would be so proud to be remembered in this way!

When he received his Distinguished Service Award from Tufts in 2003, a Nelson Henderson quote based on an old Greek proverb was read: “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” This scholarship would be such a fitting tribute to Elliott Lerman. My humble father would be so honored for his class to remember him in this way and to help students attend Tufts in memory of his beloved Class of 1965. My thanks and that of my mom and my family for contributing towards the endowment this scholarship.

We need to reach at least $100,000 in gifts or pledges by June 30, 2025; and the gifts must be received by June 30, 2030.