4 minute read
LCC LION Magazine Fall 2022
Above: Chris English ’77 with sons Brooks and William, and wife Dr. Janet English
OPENING DOORS TO AN LCC EDUCATION
— DAVID GARFINKLE ’77
BY WENDY SINGER, WRITER
When Chris English ’77 began his studies at LCC in grade 7, he and his family had just moved from rural Hudson where he was a star hockey and baseball player. It didn’t take him long to realize that he would need to step up his game in order to compete and succeed in athletics and academics at the school.
He credits LCC for providing him with a strong foundation and the tools that fostered intellectual rigour, which helped him overcome adversity in his life and career. The support of class and teammates David Garfinkle ’77 (Garf), Tom McKeown ’77, Phil Belec ’77, Jim Phills ’77 and Randy Aziz ’77 was invaluable to him. “We were a crew that grew up together and remain friends to this day,” says Chris.
After graduating from Vassar College, Chris worked at J.P. Morgan in New York City and he has owned and operated several minor league baseball teams. Following years on Wall Street, he founded and currently serves as the CEO of RockFence Capital, a fund manager and capital solutions provider for elite MLB, NBA, and NHL players.
Several years ago, the LCC crew banded together again to create an endowed fund that supports a student who requires financial aid to attend LCC. At their 40th alumni anniversary in October 2017 they launched The David Garfinkle ’77 and Class of ’77 Award.
The fund is named in honour of David, who suffered a spinal injury in 2014 while surfing in Hawaii. “What was important to Garf in putting his name on the fund, and therefore important to me and everybody else, was that it would create opportunities for students who would otherwise be unable to attend the school and to benefit from the LCC experience,” shares Chris.
Chris is all too familiar with the significance of a bursary of this kind. When he attended LCC, his parents had divorced and the family was experiencing financial difficulties. “My mother was a nurse who worked double shifts and, although I didn’t know this until after I graduated, my sister, who was a financially-strapped PhD student, helped fund most of my LCC education,” he says.
Those early years at LCC were not easy for Chris. “I left all my friends in a small town and was intimidated by attending a larger school that was much more demanding. Garf took me under his wing and was instrumental in helping me develop the skills I needed to succeed and stand up for myself. Plus, he made me a marginally better hockey player!”
Now years later, Chris is still inspired by Garf. “Following the accident, he demonstrated such resilience. He is exactly who he has always been — a great human being and a great leader.”
This year, David and the Class of ’77 have raised enough funds to support a second student, thanks in part to Chris, Phil and Tom, who provided matching funds to reach that goal. “LCC has always offered an amazing combination of academics, athletics and arts. I think the mission is incredible. The school is nurturing global citizens, which we greatly need,” says Chris. “We will follow our recipients through their education and look forward to seeing what they do with their lives.”
