The “topping off” of the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo (UB) on March 22 marked a building construction milestone and provided local and state leaders the opportunity to thank the Jacobs family in person for their generosity.
Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs and his wife, Margaret, were joined at the ceremony by sons and Co-CEOs Lou Jacobs and Jerry Jacobs Jr., Executive Vice President and COO Rick Abramson, Executive Vice President and CFO Chris Feeney and Pam Jacobs, wife of the late Dr. Lawrence Jacobs, the chairman’s brother. Lawrence Jacobs was longtime chair of UB’s Department of Neurology and a world-renowned multiple sclerosis researcher.
In September, the university announced the Jacobs family’s historic $30 million gift to the medical school and the school’s renaming in recognition of their service and philanthropy.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was one of the speakers who addressed the large audience gathered near the construction site before one of the final beams was signed and hoisted in place atop the $375 million, eight-story medical school building.
“Jeremy Jacobs and the Jacobs family are a model of good corporate citizenship – remembering where 
you came from, philanthropy, generosity,” Cuomo said. “The Jacobs family and Buffalo are so intertwined and your entire family has been so beautiful to Western New York; we can’t thank you enough.”
Cuomo was joined at the ceremony by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, UB President Satish K. Tripathi and other local and university leaders. Brown and Tripathi also thanked the Jacobs family during their remarks.
The medical school, part of downtown Buffalo’s burgeoning Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, is scheduled to be completed in 2017.
“When this project is completed, Buffalo will have the finest medical school in the country,” Mr. Jacobs said at the ceremony. “I look forward to cutting the ribbon and welcoming the first class of students.”
Mr. Jacobs is a longtime supporter of UB. He has served as chairman of the UB Council since 1998 and has provided invaluable service to the university over three decades, spanning the tenures of five UB presidents.
PHOTO CAPTION: Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs and his wife, Margaret, sign one of the final beams before it is hoisted in place atop the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.