Stephen J. Moses

Stephen J. Moses was born in 1938 in the Bronx to Seymour Moses, a contractor, and his wife, Ruth, a legal secretary. After graduating from high school in Teaneck, he received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. While a student there, he met his wife, Sybil, on a blind date. Both received graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, his in law and hers in international relations.

Both became renowned members of New Jersey’s legal community, Mr. Moses as a government affairs lawyer and Mrs. Moses as a judge. In addition to working as an attorney, Mr. Moses was well-known in political circles.

Mr. Moses was appointed to the College Board of Trustees in 2002 and served as chairman from 2004 until he passed away in 2009, supporting the College through one of its most rapid periods of growth, with the launch of a new facility at the Meadowlands and the expansion of the Paramus campus. He was also a member of the Bergen Community College Foundation Board of Directors and chairman from 1999 to 2002.

Mr. Moses was a great friend and advocate of the College. He was a “gentle giant” – a visionary philanthropist and leader whose contributions have left a legacy at Bergen Community College and within the state of New Jersey. Throughout his life, Mr. Moses displayed a commitment to the greater good, tempering the gravity of his work with his gentle humor and dedication to public service.

In 2002, through the construction of the Moses Family Meeting and Training Center named after his family, Mr. Moses realized his dream of building a world-class facility to serve the needs of the community. Under Mr. Moses’ direction, and with his generous financial contributions, the Moses Family and Training Center provides technologically advanced resources for learning and workforce training and a destination for community organizations to gather for professional development and to engage in public dialogue.

Mr. Moses was a vigorous advocate of open access to higher education and a trusted advisor, and this scholarship helps to ensure his legacy continues.