In Memoriam: Life Trustee Edward J. Pettinella ’76 MBA

Philanthropist leaves lasting legacy through his service, leadership and dedication to students and excellence.

He came from modest means, growing up in Batavia, New York, and his first jobs were a stock boy at a local market and short-order cook at a local restaurant. He earned money to afford college. He knew the value of hard work and determination and what it would take to aspire to and achieve a vision.

Ed Pettinella ’76 MBA, who passed away on Jan. 9, 2026, at the age of 74, parlayed those qualities and experiences into a dedication to his alma mater that helped pave a path to success for countless students.

“Ed Pettinella’s generosity, vision and business acumen helped transform Syracuse University,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He invested deeply in our faculty, academic mission and student experience. We are a stronger university because of Ed, and he will be deeply missed.”

Pettinella had once termed his 2023 $3 million gift to Syracuse Athletics “an honor” designed to “provide the student body with an unrivaled collegiate experience.” For him, it was all about advancing the academic experience and an exceptional athletics program.

He and his family established the Edward J. Pettinella Athletic Graduate Endowed Scholarship and endowed two professorships at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management to ensure that students had access to exceptional faculty. “We have high expectations for Whitman and our students,” said Pettinella. “To bring those expectations to fruition, we need gifted and inspired faculty members.”

Pettinella was elected to the board in 2013 and served as a voting trustee until 2025. During his tenure, he held multiple leadership roles, including Board vice chair, chair of the Board Audit and Risk Committee, and chair of the Budget Committee and served on multiple board committees and working groups.

He was a member of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management Advisory Council and the Kuhn Real Estate Center Advisory Board. He received Whitman’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award in 2013 in recognition of his career accomplishments and dedication to the University. He was also named the Dritz Trustee of the Year in 2017.

Those who knew Pettinella well consistently praised his leadership, business acumen, integrity, kindness, outgoing personality, sense of humor and seemingly unmatched energy. He began his career in community banking and ended it at the helm of a $7 billion real estate investment trust.

He first arrived at Syracuse University to pursue an MBA in finance after graduating with a B.S. degree in management from SUNY College at Geneseo in 1973, where he was president of the senior class, and starting a job at Community Savings Bank (CSB).

After earning an MBA in 1976, he returned to CSB to blaze a trail as the bank’s first investment analyst. In the years following, he continued to build an impressive resume in banking as president of Charter One Bank of NY and executive vice president of Charter One Financial Inc., as well as in several management positions with Rochester Community Savings Bank, including chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief investment officer.

In 2001, Pettinella joined Home Properties, which owned, operated, developed, acquired and rehabilitated apartment communities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. After initially serving as executive vice president, he became its president and chief executive officer.

Following the sale of Home Properties, Pettinella served on the board of directors of Life Storage, Inc., Manning and Napier, Inc. and Royal Oak Realty Trust, Inc. He also served on the board of directors of both the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and the National Multifamily Housing Council and was a member of the Urban Land Institute.

In addition to his generosity to Syracuse University, Pettinella shared his talents and resources with SUNY Geneseo, where the Pettinella Trading Room in the School of Business bears his name; the YMCA, including the Pettinella Aquatic Center; United Way; and Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Pettinella is survived by his wife, Ann; sons, Ryan (Deanna) and Cory ’09 (Courtney) Pettinella and their mother, Elaine; grandchildren, Reid, Sloane, Ronan and Mara Pettinella; sister, Michele Pettinella Worden; niece and nephews, Paige (Dave) Bloom, Colin (Kristi Thomas) Worden, Harrison Worden; grandniece, Brooke Bloom: step-children, Courtney (Tom) Stokes, Chelsey (Garrett) Donals, David (Erin) Wallace; step-grandchildren, James and Nora Stokes and Hannah and Nathan Donals.