The family of a long-time benefactor of the University of Colorado School of Law has pledged $3 million to launch a fund-raising campaign for a new law building at CU-Boulder, according to an announcement by law Dean Hal Bruff.
The gift is a joint commitment by law school benefactors Marvin E. and Judi Wolf of Denver, Marvin聮s brother and sister-in-law Erving and Joyce Wolf of Houston, and Elaine Wolf of Denver, widow of their late brother Melvin. Marvin Wolf, a 1954 graduate of the law school, is co-chair of the Steering Committee for the law building campaign.
Pending approval by the CU Board of Regents, the new law facility will be named the Leon and Dora Wolf Law Building, honoring the Wolf brothers聮 late parents.
"This pledge by the Wolf family represents both their generosity and their vision for the future," said CU President John C. Buechner. "A new law building will serve students, faculty and citizens for decades to come, which illustrates the important role CU can play by remaining at the center of public life in Colorado."
Dean Bruff said, "Marvin Wolf and his wife have played an important role in the growth and development of the CU School of Law. Their support has helped numerous students gain a high-quality legal education, and they have been instrumental in founding and nurturing our highly successful Natural Resources Law Center."
CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard L. Byyny said the gift in memory of the Wolfs聮 parents "stands as a tribute to all parents who instill in their children a passion for education. The Boulder campus is honored to recognize that kind of devotion by naming the new law building in their memory."
Leon and Dora Wolf were Russian immigrants who owned a tailoring and cleaning shop in Cheyenne, Wyo., in the 1940s and 1950s. Marvin Wolf said their "mission in life was to educate their children, which they accomplished. They set an example of generosity that inspires us still." Dora died in 1951 at age 45 and Leon was killed in a car accident in 1958 at age 58.
All three Wolf sons became successful businessmen and philanthropists. Marvin heads Wolf Energy Co., an independent oil and gas operation in Denver. He and his wife, Judi Wolf, are well-known supporters of the performing arts in Denver and funded a reception salon at the Temple Buell Theater.
Marvin Wolf received an honorary Order of the Coif award from the CU Law School in 1997 and CU聮s George Norlin Award in 1993. In 1981, his challenge grant provided the funds for the Law School聮s Natural Resources Law Center. He and his wife also funded the Leon and Dora Wolf Scholarship, the Dean聮s discretionary fund, and the Jules Milstein Endowment at the Law School, the latter in memory of Judi聮s father.
Elaine Wolf was married to Melvin Wolf for 41 years before his death in 1998. He was the owner of Melvin Wolf Oil Properties and received his education at the University of Wyoming. While serving on the Wyoming Foundation Board, he supported many departments, including geology, with generous gifts.
Elaine and Melvin Wolf have been long-time benefactors of several area hospitals and clinics. They received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from Rose Hospital and the outpatient surgery building at Rose was named in their honor. In addition, CU聮s Health Sciences Center and the mental health unit of Children聮s Hospital have benefited from their generosity.
Erving Wolf, chairman of Andex Resources, L.L.C., received his law degree in 1950 from Northwestern University. He and his wife are benefactors of the Denver Art Museum where many of their well-known American bronzes are on long-term permanent loan and exhibition. In addition, they are benefactors of the Exhibition Gallery in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Bruff said the new building will allow the school to "respond to the changing demands of legal education now and in the future. We will be able to offer our students the kind of professional skills training and interactive teaching and learning they will need to succeed in their profession."
Plans call for modern instructional equipment, classrooms for team-based learning, distance-education facilities and a more accessible and technologically enhanced law library. The current facility, Fleming Law Building, will be adapted to meet other needs by the Boulder campus.
Construction costs are expected to be about $37 million and will be funded through a combination of private gifts, legislative support, loans and a tuition differential already approved by the law students.
The law building pledge is part of CU聮s fund-raising campaign in support of the university聮s Total Learning Environment initiative. The TLE initiative focuses on innovations in learning; responsiveness to students and other CU constituents; technology to improve teaching, learning, research and management; and a strong infrastructure.