Emeritus professor Horace Landry dies at 95

Emeritus professor Horace Landry dies at 95November 14, 2007SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Horace Landry, professor emeritus of accounting at Syracuse University and an active philanthropist, died Sunday at age 95.

His funeral will be held Friday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. at Hendricks Chapel. Free parking will be available in Irving Garage for those who mention to the attendant that they are attending the funeral. A reception will follow immediately after the service at Drumlins.

Landry came to SU in 1947 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 1955. After retiring from full-time duties in 1978, he was named professor emeritus and served as an adjunct professor in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and the College of Law until 2001. An endowed scholarship in his name was started in the Department of Accounting in the Whitman School.

“Horace was SU accounting for over 50 years,” says Randal J. Elder, chair of the Department of Accounting. “Whenever I meet alumni, they ask about Horace and reminisce about their experiences with him. Amazingly, SU accounting was just a small part of who Horace was. A great philanthropist and caring individual, Horace will be missed by many.”

He was retired as a partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm in Syracuse.

Among his many community activities, Landry during his career had been a member of the board and co-treasurer of the Syracuse University Alumni Association of Central New York Inc., chair of the Central New York Tax Conference at University College and a member of the Orange Pack executive committee.

In addition, he had been a board member and treasurer of Civic Morning Musicals; a board member and chair of the 1973 fund drive of the Syracuse and Onondaga County Chapter of the American Red Cross; a chapter chairman and member of the advisory board of the Salvation Army (and was named a life member of the board, an honor given to just five individuals); president and member of the board of directors of March of Dimes; a member of Rotary Club of Syracuse; an honorary member and president of the Monarch Club of Syracuse; a member of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society; chair of the Capital Fund Campaign of the Erie Canal Museum; chair and member of the board of directors of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra; president of the board of the Foundation to Advance Arts and Athletics in Syracuse Inc.; president of the board of Junior Achievement of Central New York; member of the board of the Multiple Sclerosis Association; and member of the board of the American Lung Association of Central New York.

In 1994, Landry received the Post-Standard Achievement Award for his charity work.

Among his many other awards, he was named Man of the Year by the Rotary Club of Syracuse in 1970, recipient of SU’s George Arents Pioneer Medal for excellence in business in 1975, an honorary Letterman of Distinction by SU in 1977, recipient of the InterReligious Leadership Award from the InterReligious Council of Central New York in 1992, recipient of the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award from SU in 1993, and chosen as the Jonathan Holtz Alumnus of the Year by the Whitman School in 1995.

Landry received a bachelor’s degree in administrative engineering from SU in 1934 and an M.B.A. from SU in 1936. He served in World War II, joining the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a lieutenant junior grade. He received an honorary doctorate from Combs College of Music in Philadelphia in 1967.

He is survived by his good friend and caretaker, Richard Wescott.

Contributions may be made to The Horace Landry Scholarship Funds at Syracuse University and Le Moyne College.