the Jay L. Vodofsky 1978 Scholarship Fund

The Jay L. Vodofsky 1978 Scholarship Fund was established in 2009 by Jay and Randi Vodofsky and their children, Jessica and Rachel, and revised in 2017.

Jay was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Brooklyn College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1975. While attending Brooklyn College, Jay became interested in tax law and worked for an accounting firm preparing income tax returns. He attended Akron Law intending to specialize in tax law with the goal of becoming a tax partner at a “Big Eight” accounting firm. Jay became Professor Merlin Briner’s research assistant, coordinating the 1977 annual tax development article published under Professor Briner’s supervision.

During the summer after his second year, he worked in the Akron National Bank’s trust and estates department, performing research and preparing trust accountings and estate tax returns. During his third year at Akron Law, Jay worked part-time in the tax department for Touche Ross & Company. After graduation, Jay accepted a full-time position in the Touche Ross & Company office in Newark, New Jersey. While there, he received a Masters of Tax Laws (L.L.M.) degree from New York University School of Law. In late 1983, Jay left Touch Ross & Company for Wall Street and Salomon Brothers, Inc., where he was instrumental in the development of the Executive Financial Services department, providing in-house tax planning for the company’s most senior executives. In 1995, Jay joined First Manhattan Company and in 2001, he was made a Senior Managing Director and member of the firm’s Operating Committee.

The Vodofskys have strong philanthropic views, and choose to give back to help improve the lives of others and provide assistance to people attempting to reach their educational goals.

The Jay L. Vodofsky 1978 Scholarship Fund is designated for law students at The University of Akron School of Law, with preference given to students from the metropolitan New York area. Scholarship awards may cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board, all or in part. The scholarship will be awarded annually by The University of Akron School of Law’s Scholarship Committee.