St. Lawrence honors scholar, educator, administrator, bibliophile, humanitarian and philanthropist the late President Emeritus Frank P. Piskor. Along with his late wife Anne Calder Piskor, President Piskor created a legacy that illustrated his belief in St. Lawrence’s mission and its benefit to society. His passions at the University included the library, faculty scholarship and attracting and retaining deserving students.

Frank Piskor, 14th president of St. Lawrence University (1969-1981), led a period of tremendous growth of the University. Augsbury Physical Education Center and Leithead Field House were built; St. Lawrence opened international programs in Kenya, Canada and England; the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery was dedicated; and the addition to the Owen D. Young Library, the Torrey Wing, opened.

President Piskor crafted his philanthropic plan to support his areas of interest at the University. First, he was a loyal St. Lawrence Fund supporter. He knew that the education of students costs much more than annual tuition. In 1978, Frank and Anne Piskor established the Anne C. and Frank P. Piskor Scholarship to support women students from the North Country who show financial need.   He made special gifts, such as his 1993 contribution of his Robert Frost collection to the library. As early as 1976 he named St. Lawrence in his will to receive a bequest. Beginning in 1998 he made a series of gifts to the St. Lawrence Pooled Life Income Fund, which generated income back to him each year. Finally, he named St. Lawrence as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

President Piskor planned his estate gifts as a capstone to his lifelong philanthropy. At his March 2006 death, his estate was directed to the scholarship endowment, the special collections endowment at the library, and the Piskor Faculty Lectureship. His gifts help attract and retain the best students, keep our library strong and encourage the best faculty scholarship, all vital components of a healthy St. Lawrence into the future.