James S. “Great Neck” Richman (ADL ’72) fondly recalls seeing artists such as Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison perform in Cleveland during his time as a student at Case Western Reserve University in the late 1960s and early ’70s. These concerts only reinforced his burgeoning love of music that began as a member of a high school band on New York’s Long Island.
“Music has long been an extremely important part of my life,” he said. “It’s amazing how one song can mean so many things to so many different listeners—and still be one of the few mediums today that manages to bring people together from all walks of life.”
As a testament to that passion, the Richman family has committed $2 million to endow The Great Neck and Elissa Richman Professorship in Popular Music Studies on the Music Department faculty in Case Western Reserve’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“Well beyond Great Neck’s dedicated service on our Board of Trustees, he and his wife, Elissa, are wonderful friends of the university,” Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler said. “This generous gift will provide critical funding for recruiting and hiring of talented faculty whose expertise enhances our ability to attract the best and brightest students.”
Great Neck Richman is president and CEO of Richloom Fabrics Group, a textile converter, designer and distributor of home furnishing fabrics in New York City, with a subsidiary in Shanghai. He has worked for 55 years with the company, which was founded by his father, Fred Richman.
“Popular and contemporary music are beloved by the Richman family; their generous gift will allow us to put even more emphasis on these topics,” Center for Popular Music Studies director Daniel Goldmark said. “We’re looking forward to being able to expand our programming and course offerings in the coming years.”
Longtime supporters of Case Western Reserve and of music in general, the Richmans’ and the Richman Family Foundation’s previous gifts include:
- Establishing the Richman Fund for Popular Music Studies in 2016 to strengthen popular music studies at Case Western Reserve by supporting scholarship, education and outreach efforts.
- Endowing a scholarship to support students in the College of Arts and Sciences, where Great Neck Richman serves on the college’s visiting committee.
- Supporting Case Western Reserve’s Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts Center at The Temple–Tifereth Israel.
- Contributing as a founding funder of the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“My father started our family foundation and demonstrated the importance of giving back,” Great Neck Richman said. “I have been greatly impressed by the dedication Eric [Kaler], provost Joy Ward and Daniel [Goldmark] have shown to the university community, and Elissa and I are honored to continue our family’s support for Case Western Reserve. We firmly believe that strengthening the university’s liberal arts curriculum will only help our status as a world-class research institution.”
