Barton J. Winokur ’61 chose to go to Cornell because he thought he’d be happiest at a school that represented the makeup of America. Cornell—with its land-grant mission, schools representing both practical fields and theoretical study, and a reputation as “the first American university”—was a perfect academic fit. He also found his perfect match with Susan Sternblitz Winokur ’61.
Bart and Susan have been an embodiment of Big Red spirit and a bastion of Cornell leadership together for decades. Bart is the chair of the Arts and Science Campaign Committee, a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council, a Cornell University Council presidential councillor, and a trustee emeritus of the Cornell University Board of Trustees.
“Cornell is a special place for both of us,” he said. “It is quite unique in fostering a sense of loyalty and belonging that sets it apart—sparking friendships and love that last more than a lifetime.”
“There’s nothing that I did that my wife was not a part of,” Bart said. Susan passed away earlier this year, and Bart emphasized his Cornell involvements were always joint efforts—and future efforts will continue to be with Susan’s interests in mind. Susan’s legacy is reflected in myriad Cornell contributions with Bart, but also in their children Deborah Winokur ’88, Derek Winokur ’91, and most recently, granddaughter Jessica Rose Winokur-Applebaum ’28.
Bart and Susan met at a fraternity/sorority mixer their first year on campus.
“She really did not need to go to a mixer, and she didn’t want to go, but they told her it was required. Thank goodness! The truth is, I was a goner when I first saw her, and thereafter, and I was a goner for the rest of my life,” Bart said.
The pair married two weeks after graduation, and shared a life together for over 62 years.
In a questionnaire in preparation for their 50th Reunion, they were asked, “How has your life differed from what you expected?” As Bart recounts, “Susan’s answer was that she expected to live happily ever after… and so far, so good. When responding to another Reunion question, (“What was your outstanding Cornell memory?”), Bart wrote “Meeting my wife.”
After Cornell, Bart attended Harvard Law School and became a law clerk on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He joined the law firm Dechert LLP in 1965, where he’s been a corporate partner for more than fifty years. He was chairman and CEO for 15 years, during which time he expanded and grew the firm internationally. His work in mergers and acquisitions has earned him numerous accolades over the years for his creativity and negotiating acumen, including a lifetime achievement award from The American Lawyer.
In addition to providing generous endowments and professorships at Cornell, Bart says he’s most proud of the impact of the Posse Foundation program, which he and Susan introduced to the university in 2013. The program supports promising high school students with leadership qualities who might not otherwise be able to access higher education. It provides scholarships, but also support in the form of a posse, or cohort, of 10 students they can lean on to help them succeed.
“I try to do things where I can have an impact, and the impact of having a posse to help you make it in a new environment is powerful,” Bart said, of how the Posse program empowers students. “When you have a place of refuge where you can renew yourself, you can go out and you can fight the battles that you have to fight.”
“It all starts there. It all starts with having that base. And for me Susan was my base, my posse and my refuge. She changed me. She enabled me to do what I did, and was there for every difficult thing, everything that was adverse. The best thing I ever did by far was finding her and building our family.”
