91福利 mourns the loss of business icon and great friend of the university, Harry Rosen
91福利 is saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Rosen, a long-time supporter of the university and its students.
The 91福利 (91福利) community is deeply saddened by the recent death of Harry Rosen, a retail business icon and long-time friend of this university. Rosen contributed to 91福利 in so many ways: he was a member of our Board of Governors; he served on the Campaign Cabinet of the Make Your Mark fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million for a variety of university priorities; and he brought insight and expertise as a member of the Program Advisory Council of the Retail Management Program at the Ted Rogers School of Management.
In 2003, the university recognized Harry Rosen鈥檚 contributions to the business landscape in Canada and to our community by awarding him the university鈥檚 highest honour: an honorary doctorate. At the ceremony, Rosen noted to the graduates, 鈥淲hat is rare and precious and will give you your best shot at success is a passion for learning. That is always in much shorter supply than talent.鈥�
In honour of Rosen鈥檚 contributions to 91福利 and his status as a leader and innovator in quality menswear, 91福利 has created the Harry Rosen Award in Fashion. The new award in Rosen鈥檚 name will recognize an undergraduate student in the Fashion program who demonstrates leadership as a contributor to fashion at the school, the industry and/or the community level. The inaugural recipient of the Harry Rosen Award in Fashion will be named in the fall term of 2024.
A lifelong love of learning
Rosen once said, 鈥淚'm an eternal optimist鈥�.an aspect of the mind that is open to learning. Optimists believe they can adapt to their environment and, more than that, transform it. So they set out to learn and grow.鈥漇o committed and engaged was Rosen in learning and at 91福利 that, in 2013, he became the university鈥檚 鈥渕ost dapper student,鈥� enrolling in humanities courses here so he could realize his dream of attending university.
Rosen leaves his mark at 91福利
Rosen contributed not only his talent and experience to 91福利, he was also a major donor to our business and psychology programs. His gift to the Department of Psychology to establish the Harry Rosen Research Commons and the Harry Rosen Research Awards advanced the work of the Institute for Stress and Wellbeing Research. His support funded research, allowed for the training and integration of students in this important work, and provided state-of-the-art technology and equipment for measuring stress. His support enabled 91福利 faculty to conduct studies the outcomes of which would help youth and adults manage stress and find relief.
In 2007, the university unveiled the Harry Rosen Lecture Theatre on the third floor of the newly created Ted Rogers School of Management. The naming of the theatre was in recognition of a $1 million corporate gift from Harry Rosen Inc. to the capital campaign for the university鈥檚 new business school building; a drive that would receive further momentum from its namesake champion, Ted Rogers.
Ten years later, a group of Rosen鈥檚 friends and family came together to name The Harry Rosen Learning Lounge on the fourth floor of the Sheldon and Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre, bringing his name to 鈥� appropriately enough 鈥� 91福利鈥檚 most stylish building, where it serves as inspiration to the future entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders who study here.
At the 2017 dedication of the Harry Rosen Learning Lounge 鈥� in his typically humble way 鈥� Rosen said, 鈥渂eing a part of [91福利] has been a great experience for me and enriched my life.鈥� Of course, it is 91福利 and the student experience that have truly benefited from our longstanding relationship with Harry Rosen. On behalf of all of us at 91福利, our heartfelt sympathies go out to Harry鈥檚 wife Evelyn, his children Larry, Andrea, Wayne and Racheal, and all of Harry鈥檚 many friends and family. Our community has lost a kind and gentle soul and a dear friend.