Slutzker Family Foundation
Her beauty and charisma belied her years. Born October 7, 1917 in Budapest, Hungary Lillian Slutzker fled Nazi control for England after her parents were killed at Auschwitz. Prior to the Normandy invasion of WWII, she met Manny Slutzker at a USO dance. A week after they met, he proposed. Lillian told him, “Let’s see if you get back first.”
After the war ended, Manny returned to his hometown of Rome, New York. Lillian followed in 1947, and the two were married. In 1949, they bought what was then a smoke shop on Marshall Street. Lillian fondly remembered those early years.”Manny sold everything in the store back then—clothing, hats, imported cigarettes, he was a pioneer in the paperback business in Syracuse—the first to offer Penguin paperbacks.” Manny’s involvement with the textbook business led to a close and long-lasting relationship with the University community.
The Lillian Slutzker Honors College at Onondaga provides high-achieving students with an intellectually stimulating and challenging academic experience. The Honors College is divided into two cohorts of students — Lillian Slutzker Honors Scholars and Honors Affiliates.
The Slutzker Foundation partnered with the Al Hirschfeld Foundation to bring its innovative visual and performing arts curriculum to schools throughout the region. Based on Al Hirschfeld’s art, this visionary curriculum engages students K through 12 in a variety of arts activities. Developed in conjunction with the New York City Board of Education, Syracuse is the first region outside of New York City to utilize the curriculum serving as a pilot to bring the Arts Education Initiative to underserved communities around the country.
Funded by the Slutzker Family Foundation, the curriculum will be taught at by Redhouse teachers at Redhouse’s Summer Camps. Additionally, the two organizations are also developing opportunities to bring this curriculum in to schools across Central New York this fall.
The Slutzker Family Foundation has generously pledged a multi-year donation to support the Loretto Memory Care Capital Campaign.
Loretto has been a pioneer in innovating care for older adults and others in need since 1926. Given the growing challenge facing our community as a result of the increasing numbers of people impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia, Loretto is focusing its efforts on the construction of a Memory Care Center of Excellence in Central New York. The new Memory Care Residence will be designated specifically for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia and will be tailored to their needs. It will be located at the Nottingham in Jamesville, New York.
Lillian’ husband, Emanuel (“Manny”) Slutzker suffered from Alzheimer’s and, as a result, she recognized the unique needs of individuals with dementia and the challenges faced by their caregivers.
The donation made by the Slutzker Family Foundation will be recognized by the naming of a screened porch and movie palace at the Memory Care Residence for Lillian.”
Board of Directors
Honorable AVA S. RAPHAEL
She was the surrogate court judge for Onondaga from January 2009 until her retirement in December 2017. She was also an acting Supreme court justice for Onondaga county. She is currently a judicial hearing officer for the fifth judicial district of New York state. She began her law career as an associate with Mackenzie Hughes LLP, where she concentrated in Appellate practice and Medical litigation.
Judge Raphael earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts from Syracuse University and a J.D. Magna cum Laude from Syracuse University college of law.
Brooke raphael
She is Vice President of Commercialization of Phosplatin. She is, responsible for oversight and development of their strategic commercialization plan. She previously worked at intercept pharmaceuticals where she was the chief of staff to the president of us commercial, and was a member of the strategic marketing team.
Prior to joining intercept, she spent 8 years at Celgene in a variety of roles, including project management for early development projects across both hematology and solid tumor oncology indications, she was a member of the Revlimid® marketing team, and also led the strategic marketing efforts at celgene cellular therapeutics.
She graduated Summa cum Laude from Tufts university with a dual major in Civil and Biomedical Engineering, received her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University, and also earned her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Cora A. Alsante
Cora Alsante is the Leader of the Elder Law & Special Needs Practice and a partner in the Tax and Trusts & Estates Practices at Hancock and Estabrook LLP. She is also a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Ms. Alsante focuses her practice on estate planning, trusts, planning for the elderly and disabled, and estate and trust administration. She represents individuals and numerous assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
Ms. Alsante frequently lectures for organizations such as the New York State Bar Association, Onondaga County Bar Association, Special Needs Alliance and Alzheimer’s Association on topics including guardianships, supplemental needs trusts, estate planning, planning for the elderly and disabled, and estate and trust administration.
Ms. Alsante was named one of the “Top 25 Female Upstate New York Super Lawyers” for 2011 and 2013 and was selected as a Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of “Litigation – Trusts and Estates”, in Syracuse, NY, for 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Irv Raphael
Dr. Irving Raphael,as the Director of Sports Medicine and Head Team Physician for Syracuse University was a fixture at Syracuse University football, basketball games and lacrosse for 27 years. He also served as Head Team Physician at Cazenovia College. He is an Orthopedic consultant to the NCAA, NBA, NFL, and PGA.
Dr. Raphael specializes in arthroscopic and ligament reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. He is, also, extensively trained in cosmetic dermatology procedures.
He is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic residency at Upstate Medical School, where he is now a clinical assistant professor of orthopedics. Dr. Raphael frequently lectures on sports medicine and student athlete related issues. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the International Arthroscopy Association, and is a board certified in orthopedic surgery.
He resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Judge Ava Raphael.
Joe Chirco
Joe Chirco is a native of Central New York, born and raised in the Auburn area. Joe graduated from RIT with a B.S. in Engineering. Upon graduation, he joined UTC/Carrier Corporation. While at Carrier he attended Syracuse University, earning his MBA and later attended Darden’s Executive Leadership MBA Program.
During his tenure at Carrier, Joe has lived in Texas, Tennessee and Paris, France. He travels extensively for the Corporation while based here in Syracuse. He has been active on local not-for-profit boards, having served as Board Chair for Make-A-Wish Central New York, and is now Carrier’s Campaign Chair for the annual United Way pledge drive.
Having been with Carrier since 1986, Joe has varied and progressive experience in the HVAC industry. In his current role, Joe leads the development and execution of commercial business marketing, communications, sales tools and training processes to drive improved customer focus. Prior to his current position, he held leadership roles of increasing responsibility in Carrier’s commercial product line, operations, and management of large-scale programs for the company.
He resides in Jamesville with his wife, Cora Alsante, and their three children: Ben, Max, and Francesca.