NJIT Names Academic Learning Studio in Honor of Kalafer Family
Steve Kalafer was a tireless advocate and ambassador for NJIT, and as a member of the Board of Overseers and a longtime benefactor of the university, he generously shared both his time and resources. To honor his commitment to NJIT, the university has recommissioned the athletic department’s academic help center as the Kalafer Family Academic Learning Studio.
Prior to Steve’s passing in 2021, the Kalafers established the Kalafer Family Scholarship with a seven-figure financial commitment. This scholarship is in addition to the Steve Kalafer Endowed Baseball Scholarship, which was established in 2008.
Steve was a genuine “Renaissance man.” He was a tremendously successful businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Flemington Car and Truck Country family of dealerships and owned the Somerset Patriots. He also was a real estate developer who helped to revitalize Bayonne’s waterfront, an Academy Award-nominated documentary film producer, a philanthropist who gave generously, a trusted advisor to various government officials, and a mentor to all who had the good fortune to spend time with him. His many impressive gifts, talents and achievements, together with his seemingly boundless interests and joie de vivre, made him a truly larger than life presence. Among his notable honors, Steve was elected to the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020.
NJIT President Joel S. Bloom took the opportunity to not only thank Steve and the Kalafer family for their steadfast support of NJIT, but to tell several stories that highlighted Steve’s personality. “Steve was a star wherever he went. He was a star that lit up a room, a star that gave back and a star that cared deeply about our students,” said Bloom.
“Steve understood the values of friendship, partnership, education and hard work,” said Lenny Kaplan, associate vice president and director of athletics at NJIT. “The Kalafer Family Academic Learning Studio plays a significant part in the development of our student-athletes, as it is their academic home for support and the home of our leadership academy program.”
The April 4 ceremony was a chance for many to remember and relive moments with Steve, and for some to thank the family directly for their generosity. Paul Franzoni ’21, ’22, is a recipient of the Steve Kalafer Baseball Scholarship. A business major seeking his master’s and a current co-captain and member of the history-making team that reached the NCAA tournament in 2021, Franzoni exemplifies the positive outcome of a Kalafer scholarship.
“It’s an honor to speak before all of you today and represent the baseball program, along with all NJIT student-athletes,” said Franzoni. “Thanks to the generous support of Mr. Kalafer and the entire Kalafer family, we have an unbelievable facility in which to learn, study, collaborate and excel. We truly have the ability to maximize our potential as student-athletes, and for that we are eternally grateful.”
Located on the 3rd floor of NJIT’s Wellness and Events Center, the Kalafer Family Academic Learning Studio is the locus of critically important academic student services, including academic advising, tutoring, skill-building, and mentoring, offered to NJIT’s talented and hardworking NCAA Division I student-athletes.
A tour of the facility offered a chance to see how the Kalafer family’s contributions have enhanced academic resources available to student-athletes. With collaborative spaces, private tutoring rooms and staff onsite, the Studio aims to improve NJIT student-athletes’ already impressive academic performance. NJIT’s 19 Division I teams have had a cumulative GPA above a 3.0 for 26 consecutive semesters.
The Studio features a quote from Aristotle emblazoned on the back wall to further encourage student-athletes: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Fittingly, joining Aristotle on another wall is Steve’s mantra: “Be kind, be fair, work hard, earn money, do good.”
Bloom emphasized Steve’s character and legacy as an influential and kind-hearted mentor by reading back a quote from his 2020 honorary degree acceptance speech.
“Directed towards students, Steve said, ‘COVID-19 has changed the world as you know it. But you are going to change the world as we know it.’”
