Ira Kukin was a chemist, and was the benefactor of Henry Rosovsky’s dream, the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies.  The couple times I met him as an Academy Scholar, he was engaged and curious.

Yeshiva University mourns the passing of Dr. Ira Kukin, a Benefactor of the University. The service that he and his wife, Doris z”l, provided to YU was all-embracing. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1981 and later served as its Vice Chairman. He served on the Boards of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Stern College for Women and Yeshiva College in the oversight of Academics Affairs. He was also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Sy Syms School of Business, which opened its doors on September 8, 1987. He also helped raise funds for it. He and Doris established the Dr. Ira and Doris Kukin Entrepreneurial Lecture Series at Sy Syms, the Frank J. Scardilli Lectureship at Cardozo and the Ira Kukin Chemistry Lecture series at the undergraduate schools as well as a chair in molecular biology at Stern College and the Ira and Doris Kukin Distinguished Visiting Professorship of Finance at the Sy Syms School of Business. In 1986, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his leadership. He had a long career as a research scientist turned entrepreneur. He obtained degrees in chemistry from CCNY and Harvard University and taught at both Harvard and the Associated College of Upper New York. He transformed his research on colloid chemistry and combustion thermodynamics into Apollo Technologies International Corp., a leader in the specialized field of boiler efficiency. Condolences are extended to his children, Dr. Marrick Lee (and Phyllis) Kukin, Lori Sue (and Jeffrey) Moskowitz, and Jonathan Liener (and Leora) Kukin and all of their grandchildren. May they be comforted among all who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem. Yeshiva University Richard M. Joel, President Norman Lamm, President Emeritus

Source: IRA KUKIN Obituary – Livingston, NJ | New York Times