David Kurtzman
Encyclopedia
David Harold Kurtzman was the fourteenth Chancellor
(1966-1967) of the University of Pittsburgh
.
He had been Vice Chancellor of Finance and was appointed Acting Chancellor after the sudden death of Stanton Crawford
. Crawford died of a heart attack January 26, 1966. Kurtzman's administration negotiated the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
's bailout of Pitt's fiscal woes. The university became a state-related institution on August 23, 1966.
On January 13, 1967 the Board of Trustees announced its selection of Wesley Posvar
as its new Chancellor, effective June 1. Kurtzman, that same day, was promoted to the full rank of Chancellor until the Chancellor-elect was installed.
A ballroom is the university's William Pitt Union
is named in his honor.
Kurtzman was born near Odessa, Ukraine, in then-czarist Russia, and survived pogrom
s as a boy, eventually Lafrom the University of Pennsylvania
. He worked for many years at the Pennsylvania Economy League. There he served as a key aide to David L. Lawrence
, mayor of Pittsburgh, and Richard King Mellon
, financier, in their effort to build the city's first renaissance after World War II
. Kurtzman joined the newly-elected Governor Lawrence in 1959 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
as his secretary of administration.
He was the defendant in the landmark Supreme Court decision Lemon v. Kurtzman
.
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
(1966-1967) of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
He had been Vice Chancellor of Finance and was appointed Acting Chancellor after the sudden death of Stanton Crawford
Stanton Crawford
Stanton Chapman Crawford was the thirteenth Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.He was appointed Acting Chancellor, somewhat unwillingly due to health concerns, following the departure of Edward Litchfield. Crawford died of a heart attack January 26, 1966...
. Crawford died of a heart attack January 26, 1966. Kurtzman's administration negotiated the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's bailout of Pitt's fiscal woes. The university became a state-related institution on August 23, 1966.
On January 13, 1967 the Board of Trustees announced its selection of Wesley Posvar
Wesley Posvar
Wesley Wentz Posvar was the fifteenth Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.-Biography:Posvar was born September 14, 1925 in Topeka, Kansas. He attended West Point, graduated first in his class in 1946, and after graduation he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air...
as its new Chancellor, effective June 1. Kurtzman, that same day, was promoted to the full rank of Chancellor until the Chancellor-elect was installed.
A ballroom is the university's William Pitt Union
William Pitt Union
The William Pitt Union is the student union building of the University of Pittsburgh main campus and is a Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark...
is named in his honor.
Kurtzman was born near Odessa, Ukraine, in then-czarist Russia, and survived pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s as a boy, eventually Lafrom the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He worked for many years at the Pennsylvania Economy League. There he served as a key aide to David L. Lawrence
David L. Lawrence
David Leo Lawrence was an American politician who served as the 37th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1963. He is to date the only mayor of Pittsburgh to be elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Previously, he had been the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1946 through 1959...
, mayor of Pittsburgh, and Richard King Mellon
Richard King Mellon
Richard King Mellon , commonly known as R.K., was an American financier from Ligonier, Pennsylvania.-Biography:The son of Richard B. Mellon, nephew of Andrew W...
, financier, in their effort to build the city's first renaissance after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Kurtzman joined the newly-elected Governor Lawrence in 1959 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
as his secretary of administration.
He was the defendant in the landmark Supreme Court decision Lemon v. Kurtzman
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 , was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Pennsylvania's 1968 Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which allowed the state Superintendent of Public Instruction to reimburse nonpublic schools for the salaries of teachers who...
.