Gershon kekst biography of martin

The university is mourning the passing of longtime Trustee Gershon Kekst, P’05, who chaired the transformative Campaign for Brandeis, which raised nearly $1 billion for the university during the 2000s.

Kekst, 82, who died on March 17, joined the Board of Trustees in 1986 and was elected trustee emeritus in 2012.

He served as vice chair from 2005-09.

“Gershon’s knowledge and wisdom were remarkable, and he delivered his advice candidly but warmly,” says Larry Kanarek ’76, chair of the Board of Trustees.

“He cared about his clients, as he cared about all people, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. He was the consummate professional, a wonderful human being, a great leader and a real mensch, and Brandeis and the world will miss him.”

Kekst’s leadership of the Campaign for Brandeis, which was the first comprehensive fundraising initiative in university history, helped revamp the campus physical plant and place the institution on firm