Glenn Korff, whose $8 million gift to UNL’s School of Music was announced last week, died Tuesday after an illness at his home in Boulder, Colo.
“We are deeply saddened by Glenn’s death,” UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said. “We had hoped he would be able to see personally how his extraordinary gift to the School of Music transformed the lives of the students and faculty.
“His legacy will be a very significant and lasting one at the university.”
Brian Hastings, president of the University of Nebraska Foundation, noted how humble Mr. Korff had been regarding the significant gift he had made to UNL.
“He would state how honored he was to make the gift, and how grateful he was, when of course we are the ones who are honored and grateful. Just as we are now honored and grateful to have known Mr. Korff and be touched by his tremendous kindness,” Hastings said.
Last week, members of the Cornhusker Marching Band traveled to Boulder to present Korff with a signed bass drum to commemorate his gift to the School of Music.
Each year, 25 percent of the expendable income from the endowed fund will support undergraduate and graduate students within the school through scholarships, fellowships, international engagement activities and grants for opportunities to hone their skills. Another 25 percent will support the school’s faculty through awards to support teaching initiatives, scholarly research, creative activities, professional travel and more while also creating the Glenn Korff Endowed Chair, the recipient of which will be selected based on national and international accomplishments.
The remaining 50 percent of the fund’s annual support will be directed to the school’s academic and program activities, which may include support for concerts, recitals, tours, competitions, academic conferences and more.
In addition to his gift to the School of Music, Korff also has donated to the College of Business Administration. He also gave of his time as well, serving as a trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation and lending his financial expertise through his service on a foundation investment committee. Korff said his monetary donations and the gift of his time were an expression of the gratitude he felt for the education he received at UNL.
A native of Hebron, Korff graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1965 with a chemistry major and was a member and former president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. His passion for performing arts began on the Nebraska campus as a member of Kosmet Klub, a male musical and comedy ensemble, which he served as a set designer. He went to the University of Pennsylvania to receive an MBA in finance in 1968 and enjoyed a long career in the area of finance and investments, retiring from Goldman Sachs.
Services are pending.
