Local real estate developer, philanthropist, and political activist David Flaum died on Thursday.
Flaum founded Flaum Management Company in the mid-1980s. The real estate firm has many holdings in Rochester and across the state and the country.
Flaum, a noted philanthropist, was honored by the Rotary Club for his donations to the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus.
URMC's Flaum Eye Institute is named after Flaum and his wife, Ilene.
He has served as chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, and was a board member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. He also served on the boards of Syracuse University and the University of Rochester.
His family released a statement on Thursday:
"Over a successful career, Flaum built a diverse real estate portfolio and thriving real estate company, Flaum Management Company, Inc. He took pride in redeveloping undervalued and empty properties, transforming them into thriving commercial centers. But it was both his business and his philanthropic actions that defined his life.
The son of Holocaust survivors, he received three presidential appointments: two by George W. Bush as member of the Holocaust Memorial Museum Council, and one by Donald Trump as member of the governing body of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Passionate about politics, he also served as National Chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition. He and his wife, Ilene, endowed the University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute. Flaum served on the Board of Trustees at the University of Rochester and at Syracuse University, his alma mater.
David and Ilene recently received the 80th Rochester Rotary Club's Civic Award. In a life distinguished by awards and honors, his family says he was most proud of the award he received jointly with his wife, children and grandchildren, in 2015: the Multi-Generational Award for National Philanthropy Day given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Genesee Valley Chapter.
“My father’s commitment to his family, his career, and his community has been a powerful force that has changed this world for the better, in the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam,” says Asher Flaum. “Even in this difficult moment, we will draw on this example to build on his legacy and honor his memory.”"
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren also issued a statement on Thursday on Flaum's passing:
"I know our entire city is grateful for Mr. Flaum's many civic and charitable contributions. And, I ask our community to join me in extending our thoughts and prayers to his family. May God comfort them during this difficult time."
