Jacob Burns (attorney)
Encyclopedia
Jacob Burns was a prominent New York attorney specializing in corporate law and estates and trusts. He was a philanthropist, a painter, and a corporate leader. He was a founder and, for several years, chairman of the board of U.S. Vitamin and Pharmaceutical Corp., a public company that merged with Revlon
in 1966. Mr. Burns was a member of the Revlon board of directors from 1966 to 1985.
Jacob Burns’ father, George Burns (born Zorak Bialack) immigrated to the United States from Kiev, Russia. He settled in Washington, D.C.
, around 1915, where he opened what may have been that city’s first silent movie house on 14th St. NW. As a teen, it was Jacob Burns’ job to deliver the film to the theater on his bicycle, and to work the pedals of the player piano throughout the show.
At Yeshiva University
, Mr. Burns served on the Board of Trustees and was a founding director of the Sy Syms School of Business
. He was a member of the Cardozo Board of Directors from 1976 until his death in 1993 and was chairman from 1986 to 1992. In 1984, Yeshiva conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. In 1970, Mr. Burns received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The George Washington University Law School
, from which he had graduated in 1924. He was a member of the Order of the Coif
for more than six decades. At George Washington, he was a trustee for many years and a member of the board of directors of the George Washington Law Association, which presented him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1975. He also received the Alumni Achievement Award in 1983 from the university's General Alumni Association.
In the legal field, he was vice chairman of the Committee on Character and Fitness of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, first Judicial Department. For many years, he was a director of the New York County Lawyers' Association, which awarded him its Medal for Conspicuous Service. He was chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee on Discipline of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and a member of the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar Association.
In addition to his involvement with Yeshiva University and The George Washington University, Mr. Burns was a philanthropic leader in a broad spectrum of institutions that promoted the advancement of learning and the arts, including the Metropolitan Opera Association, Thirteen (WNET
), and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
. The Jacob Burns Foundation, which he founded in 1959, has given away millions of dollars to not-for-profit organizations in the U.S. It continues his legacy today, providing grants to projects such as the Jacob Burns Film Center
in Pleasantville, New York
.
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
in 1966. Mr. Burns was a member of the Revlon board of directors from 1966 to 1985.
Jacob Burns’ father, George Burns (born Zorak Bialack) immigrated to the United States from Kiev, Russia. He settled in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, around 1915, where he opened what may have been that city’s first silent movie house on 14th St. NW. As a teen, it was Jacob Burns’ job to deliver the film to the theater on his bicycle, and to work the pedals of the player piano throughout the show.
At Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
, Mr. Burns served on the Board of Trustees and was a founding director of the Sy Syms School of Business
Sy Syms School of Business
The Syms School of Business is Yeshiva University's business school for men and women...
. He was a member of the Cardozo Board of Directors from 1976 until his death in 1993 and was chairman from 1986 to 1992. In 1984, Yeshiva conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. In 1970, Mr. Burns received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
, from which he had graduated in 1924. He was a member of the Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
for more than six decades. At George Washington, he was a trustee for many years and a member of the board of directors of the George Washington Law Association, which presented him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1975. He also received the Alumni Achievement Award in 1983 from the university's General Alumni Association.
In the legal field, he was vice chairman of the Committee on Character and Fitness of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, first Judicial Department. For many years, he was a director of the New York County Lawyers' Association, which awarded him its Medal for Conspicuous Service. He was chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee on Discipline of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and a member of the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar Association.
In addition to his involvement with Yeshiva University and The George Washington University, Mr. Burns was a philanthropic leader in a broad spectrum of institutions that promoted the advancement of learning and the arts, including the Metropolitan Opera Association, Thirteen (WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
), and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
. The Jacob Burns Foundation, which he founded in 1959, has given away millions of dollars to not-for-profit organizations in the U.S. It continues his legacy today, providing grants to projects such as the Jacob Burns Film Center
Jacob Burns film center
The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit cultural arts center located inPleasantville, NY. It occupies a moviehouse that was for many decades known as the Rome Theater.-External links:*...
in Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 7,019 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Pleasantville is home to a campus of Pace University and to the Jacob Burns Film Center...
.