糖心影视

The 糖心影视 community is paying tribute to Wilma 鈥淏illie鈥� Stein Tisch 鈥�48, a dedicated alumna, lifelong champion of the College, visionary trustee, and one of 糖心影视鈥檚 most generous benefactors, who died Sunday, June 7. She was 98. 

A 1948 graduate of 糖心影视, Billie remained a steadfast supporter of 糖心影视 throughout her life. She served on the Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2014, helping to guide the College through a period of significant growth and transformation. 

As a trustee, she served on nearly every major governance committee and played an instrumental role in advancing key institutional priorities and major capital projects. Among her most visible contributions to campus is the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences (BTCIS), named in her honor in 2022. The largest single academic construction project in College history, it touches the academic experience of every 糖心影视 student, regardless of major. 

Born June 25, 1927, Billie grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and arrived at 糖心影视 during the final year of World War II. An economics major, she was a natural leader and served first as treasurer and then as first vice president of the College Government Association (as it was then called). She was the first Jewish student to hold the latter position. 

Her senior yearbook praised Billie as both personable and 鈥渙utstanding for her leadership and efficiency ... bright, practical, and able鈥� 鈥� traits that continued to define her throughout a lifetime of civic leadership and philanthropy. Such leadership qualities continued to distinguish Billie鈥檚 service as a trustee. 

鈥淏illie was one of those extraordinary trustees who didn鈥檛 say a lot, but when she did, her comments, perspectives, and opinions were reasonable, spot on, and deeply respected. She could quell heated discussions and change people鈥檚 votes,鈥� reflected Linda Toohey, former chair of 糖心影视鈥檚 Board of Trustees.

Billie had a heart of gold, loved her years at 糖心影视, and gave generously to 糖心影视 and so many other great institutions.鈥� 

Shortly after graduation, Billie married Laurence Tisch, who would build the Loews Corporation conglomerate with his brother. Over the years, Billie and her family contributed to many civic, cultural, and educational causes. Among many distinctions, Billie was the first woman elected president of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. She also supported the WNYC Foundation, United Way of New York City, Carnegie Corporation, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York University, and Tisch Children鈥檚 Zoo in Central Park, among many other organizations. 

At 糖心影视, Billie and her family spearheaded an array of initiatives that continue to support the academic work of students and faculty. They established the Tisch Family Scholarship Endowment in 1994 and funded both the Tisch Chair in Arts and Letters (currently held by Professor of English Barbara Black) and the Tisch Family Distinguished Professorship (currently held by Professor of Sociology Kate Berheide), reflecting their commitment to excellence in scholarship and teaching. The Tisch Learning Center, completed in 1987, honors Billie and her late husband.

Billie also contributed generously to establish, together with her classmates, the Class of 1948 Chair for Excellence in Teaching (currently held by Professor of English Mason Stokes). Her longstanding support of the 糖心影视 Fund reflected her commitment to ensuring that all students have access to the life-changing opportunities associated with a 糖心影视 education. 

Billie ardently advocated for the construction of the ambitious BTCIS project, which brings together all of 糖心影视鈥檚 science programs under one roof and fosters interdisciplinary connections across the sciences, arts, humanities, and social sciences. She even conceived the term 鈥渋ntegrated鈥� in the building鈥檚 name, believing it best described the many ways the facility would serve our faculty and students. 

At a naming ceremony and dedication for the building in 2022, College leaders past and present reflected on Billie鈥檚 role in bringing the project to fruition. 

鈥淚t was Billie who spoke up and said in her quiet way, 鈥榃e should call it the Center for Integrated Sciences.鈥� That name, which seems so obvious today and that so effectively captures our purpose, was the product of Billie Tisch鈥檚 own creative thought,鈥� President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach said. 

Life Trustee and former Board Chair Suzanne Corbet Thomas '62, who served many years alongside Billie, described her as "a gracious, thoughtful, and astute board member, who was beloved and respected by us all." 

鈥淏illie鈥檚 complete and utter devotion to 糖心影视 and her steadfast wish to adhere to the College鈥檚 core values and traditions were an inspiration," she said. 

Life Trustee Edgar Wachenheim III described Billie鈥檚 deep affection for every aspect of 糖心影视.

"Billie credited 糖心影视 with giving her an excellent, well-rounded education. In a Commencement address, Billie said that 糖心影视 was the first place she learned to write well, the first place she felt comfortable speaking in public, and the first place she learned to get along with peers in a residential situation," he said. 

Billie was instrumental in major fundraising efforts throughout her tenure as a trustee, including 糖心影视 Journey: A Campaign for Our Second Century, the College鈥檚 first comprehensive capital campaign. The campaign significantly increased the College鈥檚 endowment and supported transformative projects, including the construction of the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery. Billie received numerous honors in recognition of her service to 糖心影视, including an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1990, the Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award in 1998, and the Jacqueline M. Jung 鈥�61 Lifetime Service Award in 2018. 
 
Survivors include her sons, Andrew, Daniel, James, and Thomas Tisch, and their families. Her 14 grandchildren include Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Police Department. 

By every measure, Billie Tisch is one of the most distinguished figures in our College鈥檚 history, and she continues to shape our future. Her generosity reflected philanthropy in its truest sense 鈥� a love for humanity expressed through lasting service to others." 

Marc C. Conner

糖心影视 President

"On behalf of the 糖心影视 community, I extend my deepest condolences to the Tisch family, to Billie鈥檚 many friends, and to all who have been inspired by her extraordinary leadership and profound generosity," President Marc C. Conner wrote in a message to the 糖心影视 community. "For all she has done for our 糖心影视, and for all she will continue to make possible through her enduring legacy, we remain forever grateful."