For years, David Rubin and later Lorraine Branham tried to convince Donald Newhouse to accept an honorary degree from Syracuse University.

Each time Newhouse was offered such a degree, most everyone was on board with the idea, from either Rubin or Branham — the former and current deans, respectively, of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications — to the SU chancellor at the time.

Everyone, that is, except Donald Newhouse. He repeatedly turned down the proposals, said Branham and Rubin, which they saw as a sign of his self-effacing personality.

That is why Branham said she was shocked when, in January, SU Chancellor Kent Syverud came to her office in Newhouse I to tell her that Donald Newhouse had agreed to Syverud’s offering of an honorary degree. The offer was coupled with Syverud requesting that Newhouse deliver the speech at SU’s commencement ceremony, Newhouse said, a request to which the billionaire president of Advance Publications agreed.

Newhouse, who Branham and Rubin describe as down-to-earth as a billionaire gets, will give his address at the joint ceremony for SU and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry on May 15. It will be the latest stamp left at SU by Newhouse, who has spent much of his life supporting the Newhouse School, originally named after his father, Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr.

Newhouse — whose wife, Susan, died in August — said his speech will focus on a message of loss and what that has taught him.

“It’s quite personal,” he said. “But despite what those words imply, it’s going to be a message to everybody about the turns life can take and how to beat those turns.”

It’s a speech he’s worked tirelessly to complete. When he met with Rubin in mid-April, Newhouse was already on his 13th draft of the speech, Rubin said.

That’s also likely in part because Newhouse doesn’t have much practice with speeches. Typically, he doesn’t like giving them, Rubin said, adding that Newhouse is “a private guy” who generally keeps to himself and prefers to stay out of the way of others.

Rubin said “you would absolutely never know” that Newhouse is a billionaire simply by talking to him.

“You can’t imagine a less pretentious billionaire than Donald,” Rubin said. “… He’s completely without airs.”

Rubin recalled instances while he was dean of the Newhouse School when Donald would call him during the work day. Each time, Donald would ask Rubin whether he was bothering him and if it was a good time to call.

“And I would say, ‘Donald, what are you kidding me? Bothering me? Just tell me what you want,’” Rubin said.

That aspect of Newhouse’s personality has also shown in the level of influence he’s had over the Newhouse School, Rubin and Branham said. Over the years, Newhouse has consistently donated large sums of money to the school, but has never attempted to control the direction of the school.

One project Newhouse helped significantly fund was the construction of Newhouse III, which was dedicated in 2007.

When Rubin proposed wrapping the side of the building with the First Amendment, Newhouse was all for it. When Rubin asked Newhouse for his thoughts on the mural just inside the main entrance of the building, Newhouse supported it. And when the Newhouse School had the opportunity to get United States Chief Justice John Roberts to be the dedication speaker, Newhouse made it happen.

Newhouse’s donations have also helped support Newhouse facilities and scholarships, as well as the school’s endowed chair and its doctoral program, Branham said.

Often times over the years, Newhouse, who lives in New York City, has visited the Syracuse area because Advance Publications owns Syracuse Media Group. When he’s visited, he has sometimes discretely stopped by the Newhouse School, “just to check the place out,” Branham said.

He did the same thing while Newhouse III was being constructed. Newhouse would come to the school, often without Rubin knowing, and “put on a hard hat and walk around,” Rubin said.

He simply would want to see the school that bears his name and his father’s name. It’s a school that is kept in high regard in journalism circles, something that Newhouse said gives him “tremendous pride” before adding that he takes “no credit.”

“Credit goes to David Rubin and now Dean Branham,” he said. “It’s been fascinating to work with them. They’re wonderful. They’re strategic thinkers.”

Inside Rubin’s office in Newhouse III sits a photo of himself, Donald and Donald’s late wife, Susan. Two buildings over, in Branham’s office in Newhouse I, sits another photo of Donald at the Newhouse School’s 50th anniversary celebration in New York City.

And even if Newhouse himself won’t take credit for the school’s success, both Branham and Rubin are quick to say he deserves a sizeable chunk of it.

Said Rubin: “I can’t imagine having a better patron for the school than Donald Newhouse.”

Published on May 11, 2016 at 8:00 pm

Contact Michael: mdburk01@syr.edu