In Memoriam

The Whitman family remembers three Whitman Advisory Council (WAC) members who passed away earlier this year: Michael J. Falcone ’57, Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55 and H. John Riley Jr. ’61 (ESC).

MICHAEL  J. “MIKE” FALCONE ’57

An entrepreneur and commercial real estate expert, Michael Falcone earned a bachelor’s degree in real estate from Whitman. He was the youngest licensed real estate salesperson in New York state at the age of 16 and built a career in real estate development. In 1969, he co-founded the Pyramid Companies and, a decade later, his own property management and development company, the Pioneer Group, known today as the Pioneer Companies.

Falcone received the Whitman School’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year award in 1992. He and his late wife, Noreen, helped establish the Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises program and the Michael J. Falcone Endowment Fund for Entrepreneurship and were early supporters of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program. The couple also created the Falcone Chair in Real Estate. Falcone served on the University’s Board of Trustees and was named a Life Trustee.

BERNARD “BERNIE” KOSSAR ’53, L’55

Bernie Kossar earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Whitman and a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He started his career with a law firm in New York City, eventually joining Franklin Store Corp., where he became president and chief operating officer. He held various corporate leadership roles before joining W.B. Grace & Co. as senior vice president of seven retail companies. He also founded OW Office Warehouse Inc., eventually selling to OfficeMax. Later, Kossar founded Millennium Partners LLP and Kossar Family LLLP, both of which he ran with grandson Michael Kossar ’13.

Kossar served as the chair of the WAC for 13 years. In his honor, Whitman’s fourth level is officially called the Kossar Executive Floor. He also served on the University’s Board of Trustees Advancement and External Affairs, and Finance committees and was named a Life Trustee. Kossar was a member of Syracuse Law’s board of advisors and a member of the Society of Fellows. Whitman honored Kossar with the Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year  award in 1996, and the University honored him with the Outstanding Alumni Award in the same year. 

Kossar and wife, Carol Karetzky Kossar ’53 (A&S), established the University’s Bernard R. Kossar Endowed Scholarship, as well as other initiatives benefitting Whitman, Syracuse Law and other schools and colleges across campus.

H. JOHN RILEY JR. ’61 (ECS)

John Riley graduated from the University with a degree in engineering. He began his career in the mailroom at manufacturer Crouse-Hinds, eventually working his way to company CEO and later led the parent company, Cooper Industries. 

A lifetime member of the WAC, Riley also served on the University’s Board of Trustees and was named a Life Trustee. A 2017 endowed gift from Riley and his wife, Diane, established the H. John Riley Dual Degree Engineering/MBA Program. The couple also supported a number of University initiatives to ensure meaningful experiences were accessible to all students. 

In 2019, he was the recipient of the Dritz Life Trustee Award. At the time of his death, Riley was serving as one of the chairs of the University’s National Campaign Executive Committee for the Forever Orange Campaign.