In Memoriam - Harris Rosen ‘61
The Cornell Hotel Society mourns the loss of Harris Rosen ’61 who passed on November 25, 2024. Harris was a very successful entrepreneur, hospitable hotelier, and extremely generous philanthropist. He truly embodied the spirit of a Hotelie for Life®.
Harris’ philanthropy benefited multiple initiatives across Orlando, within his own company, and up in Ithaca. His focus was on health care and education. Two Cornell programs funded by Harris include:
- Rosen Scholars Program: Established with a generous gift from Rosen, the program supports high-achieving students who demonstrate financial need, enabling them to pursue an education at the Nolan School of Hotel Administration.
- Cornell Alternative Spring Break Program: The Cornell Alternative Spring Break program started in March 2008 and has enriched the lives of many students and kids in the Tangelo Park and Parramore communities of Orlando. Each spring break, a few dedicated Cornell students spend their time away from Ithaca working with several groups of children on a variety of projects and mentorship programs. Volunteer work done with two-, three-, and four-year-old children include art projects, while time with fifth- and sixth-graders and high schoolers is spent tackling academic projects . At the end of the program, the Cornell students evaluate and discuss with community leaders the impact of philanthropic endeavors and public service on children and the local community.
In 2023, Harris was inducted into the Cornell Hotel Society Hall of Fame. Please use the following link to view his Hall of Fame biography. HoF Stories 2023 - Cornell Hotel Society
Harris’ extensive professional and personal accomplishments were thoroughly covered by the Orlando area media. Below are links to a sampling of the TV and newspaper stories chronicling the life of Harris Rosen ’61.
'Lane Reserved' | Remembering Harris Rosen
Remembering Orlando hotelier Harris Rosen following death
Hotelier, philanthropist Harris Rosen passes away at 85-years-old
Harris Rosen, Orlando hotel and philanthropic titan, dies at 85 – Orlando Sentinel