Eugene Rosenfeld: Remembering a Life of Achievement and Generosity


Eugene S. Rosenfeld, a UCLA graduate and successful real estate entrepreneur, passed away on July 20 at the age of 90. He made significant contributions to UCLA over the past 50 years, impacting areas such as business education, medical care, and student support.

Eugene Rosenfeld: Remembering a Life of Achievement and Generosity
Eugene Rosenfeld: Remembering a Life of Achievement and Generosity

Early Life and Education

  • Born in 1934 in Chicago to Russian immigrant parents, Rosenfeld grew up in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.
  • His father worked as a janitor, and his mother was a seamstress.
  • As a boy, he sold newspapers to help support the family.
  • Encouraged by his mother, he applied to UCLA and was accepted.
  • Rosenfeld earned a degree in business administration in 1956, made possible by a $50 scholarship.

Career and Business Success

  • After serving in the U.S. Army, Rosenfeld started his career as an accountant.
  • In 1963, he joined Kaufman and Broad, a home-building company, eventually becoming its president and CEO.
  • He went on to establish multiple successful real estate and home-building companies.
  • In 2003, he founded Forest Lane Management, LLC, which invested in real estate in the U.S. and Europe.

Commitment to Giving Back

Rosenfeld believed in sharing his success with others, particularly by supporting UCLA.

Major Contributions:

  • Student Scholarships: In the 1980s, he and his wife, Maxine, started the Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld Scholarship Fund, which has supported hundreds of students.
  • Health Care Support: They funded the 30,000-square-foot Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld Hall, a health care training facility at UCLA. Opened in 2023, it includes spaces for testing new medical technologies.
  • COVID-19 Response: The couple funded a UCLA Health program that provides personalized medical care to people with complex conditions. In recognition, the program was named the UCLA Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld Medical Home Visit Program.
  • Endowed Chairs: They established two endowed chairs in computational genetics and medical education at UCLA.

Support for UCLA Anderson:

  • Rosenfeld played a key role in the construction of the UCLA Anderson complex, including the Eugene and Maxine Rosenfeld Management Library.
  • He also chaired the board of advisors, co-founded the Ziman Center for Real Estate, and led Campaign Anderson, which raised over $100 million.

Awards and Recognition

  • In 2010, Rosenfeld received the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor.
  • He was also named one of UCLA Anderson’s “100 Inspirational Alumni” and received the UCLA Anderson Distinguished Alumni Award.

Remembered for His Character

Despite his professional accomplishments, Rosenfeld was known for his personal qualities:

  • Integrity: Trusted by those who knew him.
  • Decency: Considerate and fair-minded.
  • Humility: Remained self-effacing despite his achievements.
  • Kindness: Known for being genuinely nice to everyone.

Legacy

Rosenfeld’s influence at UCLA spans across various programs, projects, and student support initiatives. His generous spirit and dedication to the university will be remembered by the many lives he touched.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine, his two sons, Dennis and Michael, and five grandchildren.


Leave a Reply