Remembering John Gallo and Bob Levinson

John J. Gallo, Jr. and Bob Levinson paved the way for fundraising at Lynn University. Serving the university for more than 30 years, they stewarded in a culture of giving that can still be felt on campus today.

For over thirty years, Gallo was one of Lynn's greatest advocates in the Boca Raton community, generating strong support for student scholarships and campus growth.

His arrival as executive director of development at Lynn in 1991 coincided with remarkable growth that saw the school mature from the College of Boca Raton with just three academic divisions to a full-fledged university with six colleges, including a renowned Conservatory of Music. He was part of the team that kicked off the "Threshold to the Future" fundraising campaign with the ambitious goal of raising $19.5 million in five years. They raised $22 million a full two years ahead of schedule.

President Emeritus Donald Ross describes John as a perfect gentleman: "Helen and I are saddened at the passing of our dear friend and colleague. He was truly instrumental during the early and developmental years of Lynn University."

Gallo helped gain the goodwill and support of the community for significant projects that forever changed campus, including the Eugene M. Lynn and Christine E. Lynn Library and the Count and Countess de Hoernle International Center.

He was also an active participant in numerous community projects as a member and president of the Boca Raton Sunrise Rotary. Before joining Lynn, he enjoyed a long and successful management career in the retail industry. A 1958 graduate of Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, he served as the college's Florida regional alumni president starting in 1984. Gallo served in the U.S. Navy and retired as a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1983.

Levinson served as senior major gifts officer in the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs until he retired at the age of 90 in 2015.

He had a long and successful 33-year career at Lynn in key roles, including vice president for corporate development and senior development officer.

Prior to joining the Lynn family, Levinson served as a corporate executive with American Standard in Cincinnati. He later acquired a hotel in Pompano Beach and then built and operated additional hotels in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.

He leveraged his business acumen and community connections to build support for programs at Lynn. He was particularly passionate about theater and music, and he rarely missed a show at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center.

If you would like to donate to Lynn in memory of Gallo and Levinson, visit give.lynn.edu/support-lynn and choose "In memory of" under the "Tribute Information" section. Then, type in the first and last name.