78 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | IN REMEMBRANCE Ronald J. Ulrich ’66 ’98P ’99P ’05H, former chairman of the Lehigh board of trustees and Trustee Emeritus, an investment manager and generous benefactor to Lehigh athletics, performing arts and Zoellner Arts Center, passed away on Feb. 8, 2025. He was 80 years old. He graduated with degrees in both engineering and business administration, and earned an MBA in corporate finance at New York University. He was founder, chairman and chief investment officer of Equinox Capital Management, LLC, which he established in 1989 after 15 years with Morgan Stanley Group. At Morgan Stanley, Ulrich co-founded their asset management division. Ulrich joined the board of trustees in 1993, serving as chair from 1996-2002. He continued to serve as chairman emeritus, and became campaign chair of Shine Forever: The Campaign for Lehigh. He and his wife, Christie ’98P ’99P, were proud parents to Benner ’98 ’00G, Adrian ’99 and Collier. Ulrich received the Lehigh New York Club’s “L-in-Life Award” in 2003 and a Doctor of Humane Letters during the 2005 Commencement Ceremonies. “Ron Ulrich was instrumental to so many endeavors at Lehigh, from Zoellner Arts Center to the Ulrich Sports Complex, providing endowments for chairs of Lehigh’s orchestra studies and music,” said President Joseph J. Helble ’82. “His legacy will live on through the thousands of students and community members who have attended a game, match or performance at Lehigh. Ron will be greatly missed.” Ulrich opened Zoellner during its inaugural weekend in 1997 when he introduced the New York Philharmonic. Ulrich, who was a trustee of the New York Philharmonic, was instrumental in bringing the orchestra to Lehigh. Ron and Christie’s generosity allowed the music department to appoint two endowed chairs in orchestral studies and choral arts. Ulrich also supported Lehigh’s music program through a general endowment. “Ron Ulrich was a true visionary of the arts,” said Mark Wilson, executive director of Zoellner Arts Center. “His generosity has inspired creativity, innovation and a passion for the performing arts at Lehigh University and in the community.” Ulrich was the principal donor to the Ulrich Sports Complex and the Ulrich Varsity Tennis Courts. He was a longtime supporter of Lehigh’s wrestling program. He established the Ronald J. Ulrich ’66 Wrestling Endowment Fund and endowed the Peter W. Likins Wrestling Scholarship. The Wrestling Endowment Fund provides general support to the program’s areas of need, while the Likins Wrestling Scholarship is dedicated to supporting a student-athlete on the wrestling team. Ulrich also created an athletics endowment that provides annual funding to execute the athletics fundraising effort. He contributed to the renovations of the Cundey Varsity House, Grace Hall, Caruso Wrestling Complex at Grace Hall and to Lehigh’s softball facility. He also led the campaign to support endowment funding for the head football coach. In 2012, Ulrich was inducted into the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame. “Ron recognized that athletics are an integral part of a Lehigh education,” said Jeremy L. Gibson, Lehigh’s Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics. “His vision and belief in Lehigh is what we hope to instill in current student-athletes.” His other philanthropic interests included leading efforts to revitalize Southside Bethlehem. He was a former board member of The Wildlife Conservation Society, the New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, Conn., and The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and was a Chairman of the African Parks Foundation. He was also a member of the executive and nominating committee of the Lyford Cay Club in Nassau, Bahamas, and chaired the club’s finance committee.—Christina Tatu A Philanthropist and Generous Benefactor Ronald J. Ulrich was known for his generosity to the performing arts, athletics, education and conservation. REMEMBERING Ronald J. Ulrich ’66 ’98P ’99P ’05H “HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON THROUGH THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED A GAME, MATCH OR PERFORMANCE AT LEHIGH.” —President Joseph J. Helble ’82 was a member of the Lehigh family. Willet E. Egge ’73 MBA ’78, Calabash, N.C., Aug. 27, 2024. A member of the choir and Glee Club, Egge also belonged to Chi Phi. Jeffrey A. Hinchcliffe ’74, Lexington, Ky., July 2, 2024. Warren L. Serenbetz Jr. ’74, Wilton, Conn., Oct. 4, 2024. Serenbetz was a Psi Upsilon member. He worked as vice president at American National Can and president of Radcliff Group, Inc., and Hickory Enterprises LP. William P. Blasberg ’76, La Jolla, Calif., Sept. 5, 2024. Blasberg was a Theta Xi member. Christopher H. Price ’79, Sandy, Utah, Nov. 8, 2024. Price worked for Hercules, Inc., on the first carbon fiber chassis for the McLaren Race Team. He went on to work for Ford Motor Company, among others. Dominic A. Santanasto ’79, Lower Saucon Township, Pa., Oct. 9, 2024. Santanasto worked at Air Products for over 40 years. His sibling, John Santanasto, is a member of the Class of 1981. 1980s Mitchell J. Burte ’80, Andover, Mass, Oct. 2, 2024. A Sigma Alpha Mu member, Burte worked as a defense contractor. John A. McCarthy Jr. ’81, Boston, Mass., Aug. 31, 2024. McCarthy was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and played on the ice hockey and tennis teams. He co-founded LuxMed Systems, where he worked as CBO. 1990s Vincent E. Holmes ’94 M.S. ’98, Silver Spring, Md., Oct. 2, 2024. Holmes worked at NASA building instruments for the moon and Mars. 2010s Mario M. Calvache Jr. ’13, Newark, N.J., May 31, 2024. Zachary L. Drake ’19,
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