May 16, 2011

Jerry Schnydman, exec assistant to president, announces retirement

Jerome “Jerry” Schnydman, secretary of the board of trustees and executive assistant to the president, has announced his retirement from the university, effective June 30, 2012.

With his departure, Johns Hopkins loses an admired figure who forged a legend on the lacrosse field nearly 40 years ago and then gave his alma mater more than three decades of distinguished service.

Schnydman first came to Johns Hopkins in 1963 as an undergraduate and during his student career cemented his place in Blue Jays and lacrosse lore. He served as co-captain of the 1967 national championship team and was selected in 1966 and 1967 as a first team All-American. He is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the halls of fame for the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Lacrosse Foundation, Johns Hopkins and Baltimore City College High School.

Following his 1967 graduation and an eight-year career in the insurance and pension business, Schnydman returned to Johns Hopkins to join the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, working his way from assistant director to director, a post he held for nearly 11 years. He next served as executive director of Alumni Relations, from 1989 to 1998, when he assumed his current post.

In a letter to the board of trustees, President Ron Daniels said that Schnydman has been an invaluable asset and confidant.

“Jerry has offered wise and insightful advice and counsel to me and to [former President] Bill Brody, as well as to several chairs of our board of trustees. It is hard to imagine a son or daughter of Johns Hopkins having greater loyalty and affection to the university than Jerry,” Daniels said. “I am sure that you will greet this news with feelings similar to mine—sadness that we will no longer have the benefit of Jerry’s integrity, institutional memory and wonderful sense of humor, but happiness for him that he will have more time to spend with his wife, Tammy, two children and four grandchildren and to devote to community service, particularly with Beth El Synagogue, which he will be serving as president.”

Daniels said that the search for Schnydman’s successor will begin shortly.