Ronald J. Ulrich, Alumnus and Philanthropist for Lehigh’s Performing Arts and Athletics, Has Died at Age 80

Ronald J. Ulrich ’66 ’98P ’99P ’05H, former chairman of the Lehigh Board of Trustees and Trustee Emeritus, a successful investment manager and generous benefactor to Lehigh athletics, performing arts and Zoellner Arts Center, passed away on Feb. 8, 2025. He was 80 years old.

After graduating with degrees in both engineering and business administration, Ulrich attended New York University where he earned an MBA in corporate finance.

He was founder, chairman and chief investment officer of Equinox Capital Management, LLC, which he established in 1989 after 15 years with Morgan Stanley Group. At Morgan Stanley, Ulrich cofounded their asset management division in which he oversaw investments of both individual and institutional portfolios.

Throughout his lifetime, Ulrich maintained a close connection to Lehigh. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1993, serving as chair from 1996-2002. He continued to serve as chairman emeritus, and became campaign chair of Shine Forever: The Campaign for Lehigh, a $500 million fundraising effort to fund academic programs and endow scholarships.

He and his wife, Christie ’98P ’99P, were proud parents to Benner ’98 ’00G, Adrian ’99 and Collier. Ulrich focused his philanthropy on athletics, enhancements to Lehigh’s campus and the performing arts. Ulrich was awarded the Lehigh New York Club’s L-in-Life Award in 2003, which is presented to exceptional alumni who have contributed significantly to the Lehigh community. He also received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Lehigh during the 2005 Commencement Ceremonies.

“Ron Ulrich was instrumental to so many endeavors at Lehigh, from Zoellner Arts Center to the Ulrich Sports Complex, providing endowments for chairs of Lehigh’s orchestra studies and music," said President Joseph J. Helble ’82. “His legacy will live on through the thousands of students and community members who have attended a game, match or performance at Lehigh. Ron will be greatly missed.”

Patron of the Arts

A longtime supporter of the arts and Zoellner Arts Center, in September 1997, Ulrich officially opened Zoellner during its inaugural weekend when he introduced the New York Philharmonic. Ulrich, who was a trustee of the New York Philharmonic, was instrumental in bringing the orchestra to Lehigh. Their 1997 performance was only the second time the philharmonic had visited the Lehigh Valley since 1921, according to an article in the Brown and White student newspaper.

The New York Philharmonic kicked off Zoellner’s grand opening by playing Leonard Bernstein’s overture to "Candide" and the second and third symphonies of Johannes Brahms.

When it was constructed, Zoellner raised Lehigh’s profile by creating a powerful invitation to students interested in and engaged in the arts. Ron and Christie’s generosity allowed the music department to appoint two endowed chairs in orchestral studies and choral arts.

Steven Sametz will officially retire in the summer of 2025 as the Ronald J. Ulrich Professor of Music. He led choral arts performances around the world, including in May 2024 when he led Lehigh choral students and alumni on a nine-day concert tour of Portugal.

Eugene Albulescu is the Ronald J. Ulrich Endowed Chair in Orchestral Studies, and has also performed worldwide. He was invited to the White House to perform in the Millennium celebrations in 1996 and 1999 and performed at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002.

Thousands of Lehigh students and community members have benefited from both of the chairs’ expertise and participated in ensembles under their direction.

In addition to the endowed chairs, Ulrich also continued to provide support to Lehigh’s music program through a general endowment.

“Ron Ulrich was a true visionary of the arts,” said Mark Wilson, executive director of Zoellner Arts Center. “His generosity has inspired creativity, innovation and a passion for the performing arts at Lehigh University and in the community.’

In 2006, to celebrate a decade of Zoellner, Ron and Christie made possible the return of the New York Philharmonic. To honor the center’s 25th anniversary in 2022, the Ulrichs reprised their support of the orchestra, which performed Debussy’s "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun," Bruch’s "Violin Concerto No. 1," and "Symphony No. 1" by Florence Price.

Athletics as a Reflection of Excellence at Lehigh

In addition to the arts, Ulrich, who played tennis and squash during his time as a student, was a longtime supporter of Lehigh athletics.

He was the principal donor to the Ulrich Sports Complex, the multi-use facility that includes three fields on the Goodman Campus dedicated to men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer and field hockey.

Ulrich was also the principal donor of the Ulrich Varsity Tennis Courts, seventeen outdoor tennis courts that, in conjunction with the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center, are home to Lehigh’s men’s and women’s tennis teams. Ulrich’s commitment made possible the total reconstruction of the courts, plus a viewing pavilion and walkway, making the Ulrich Varsity Tennis Courts a premier collegiate tennis facility in the Northeast.