16 CommentsJohn W. Kluge, CC ’37 and a major donor to the University, passed away today. Kluge came to Columbia on scholarship after leaving Germany for America at the age of 16. He went on to become a billionaire primarily in the telecom and media industries. Over his lifetime he made several gifts to Columbia acknowledging his scholarship, most notably a $400 million gift in 2007, which was the largest ever to a University to be devoted solely to financial aid. He also is the namesake of the Kluge Scholars program, and his death is a heartfelt loss to the university community.
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16 Comments
@Anonymous RIP Mr. Kluge.
@after reading short bios and articles about him, you can tell he was one extra-ordinary dude, perhaps a good model for us students to follow: doing well to do good, what a guy and a what a profound impact his contributions have made.
@Thank you Mr. Kluge for everything you did for this school. Without you I would not have been able to come to New York, an experience that changed my life and made it possible for me to dream bigger than I could have otherwise imagined. You will be sorely missed and always remembered.
@C/O 2014 Mr. Kluge, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your generous donation. Neither would many bright and intelligent individuals I’ve met so far at this fine institution. Thank you.
@2011 I would not have applied early decision without your generous donation: thank you, Mr. Kluge, for letting me make the best decision of my life.
@Kluge2008 RIP John Kluge. I can’t thank you enough.
@Hm Kluge was a cool dude
@anonymous You help make it possible for students to come to this school kluge
@even though i certainly have my gripes with the scholars program, Mr. Kluge’s help and support meant a lot to me, especially as a freshman. Rest in peace.
@RIP Thanks for the financial aid.
@Anonymous Convenient for him to die in a year where there’s no estate tax.
Now, how much of that $400 million was in stock?
@Anonymous sooo true.
we joked about that loophole all the time in the congressional office I worked at.
@Class of 2010 My grant was bumped the year after he donated the money to fin aid removing all student loans from my bills. He made life of a lot of students at Columbia a lot easier.
Thank you John Kluge, may you rest in peace!
@Anonymous Note that the $400 million gift was a pledge, to be disbursed by his estate when he passes away. So it looks like us students (both grad and undergrad) will be finding out if our grants will get a bump-up next year!
@Alum Columbia increased its financial aid a couple of years ago in anticipation of Mr. Kluge’s bequest. The adjustment you’re hoping for has already happened. Then again, the pledge was for *at least* $400 million; it could turn out to be more. If that happens, you may get a bump after all.
@Calling Col. Mustard http://bwog.com/2010/09/04/residence-hall-etymology/#comment-207855
Guess we’ll find out soon enough!