Late philosophy professor Cerf GS '41 bequeaths $6.53 million

Walter Cerf GS '41 came to the University in 1938 to cook for two graduate students, though he did not know many recipes or many words of English.

More than 60 years later, after earning several Ph.D.s and teaching philosophy at the University, Cerf — who passed away last year — left $6.53 million to his alma mater, one of the largest bequests the University has received.

Cerf was born in Berlin in 1907 to a wealthy Jewish family, which owned a major European securities firm. After earning a philosophy degree in Germany, he came to America in 1936 with his family, leaving much of their fortune behind.

Acting on the advice of a relative to learn English, Cerf took a cooking job offered to him by Maitland Dwight '39.

"He had a great love for Princeton," said Richard Saunders, a close friend and executor of Cerf's will. "It really enabled him to establish himself as a professor of philosophy in the U.S."

The University will use $500,000 of Cerf's donation to establish a scholarship in honor of Dwight, who "really gave him the facility to become what he was in this country," Saunders said.

Another $3 million will establish the Walter Cerf Chair in Philosophy, according to Brian McDonald '83, vice president of development. The remaining money will be used to establish undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships in Cerf's name.

In his will, Cerf said he would prefer these scholarships and fellowships benefit black students.

"The University will do everything in its power to follow that, but it's not binding," McDonald said. "It is one of the largest [bequests] we've received from a graduate alumnus."

After graduating with a Ph.D. from the University in 1941, Cerf enlisted in the Army, interrogating Nazi officials in Berlin for military intelligence.

While back in Germany, he contacted his family's former business associates and returned to America with partial ownership of his family's company.

After teaching philosophy at the University for a few years, Cerf took a position as professor of philosophy at then budding Brooklyn College in 1948.

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"He really was one of the people who formed the department and made it into something," said Pat Williams, senior editor of Brooklyn College Magazine.

Williams described Cerf, who taught at Brooklyn College for 24 years, as a private man.

"While he was here, no one knew that he was wealthy," she said. The college also recently received $6.5 million from Cerf's estate, the largest bequest in the college's history.

When Cerf retired from his professorship and moved to Lancaster, Vt., he fostered his love for art, attending galleries and arts shows, appraising artwork and accumulating his own collection. Art, along with Cerf's other interests such as business, science and philosophy, became an inspiration for philanthropy.

Cerf died Oct. 26, 2001, leaving $20 million to be divided between Princeton, Brooklyn College and the Weizmann Institute for Science in Israel. Saunders added that Cerf left "a good portion" of his estate to Middlebury College as well. The $6.5 million that Cerf donated to Brooklyn College will be divided between the theater, art and music departments.