Real estate honchos and media moguls gathered at the Mandarin Oriental for the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) Real Estate Man of the Year luncheon, honoring Jerry Cohen, senior advisor with Tishman Speyer Properties.

Described as a “true Renaissance man” by ICRF founder S. Donald Friedman, Cohen has distinguished himself in the fields of real estate, sports, and philanthropy. He began his career at Brown Harris Stevens in 1957, became an owner of William A. White & Sons in 1965, then became president of Grubb & Ellis International and vice chair of Cushman & Wakefield. He’s also a partner of the Yankee Global Enterprises, was formerly president of the New Jersey Nets, and has served as chair of the real estate divisions of UJA-Federation of New York and Israel Bonds. Jerry and Adrianne, his wife of nearly 50 years, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Among the 300 guests toasting Cohen at the afternoon fete were: Luncheon chair Larry Silverstein, Howard Rubenstein, former NY Gov. Hugh Carey, and Arthur Mirante II (the first ICRF Real Estate Man of the Year).

Established in 1975, ICRF is the only U.S.-based organization devoted to the support of cancer research at leading science and medical facilities in Israel by their most gifted scientists. We applaud the efforts of these dedicated researchers, and their supporters, who never stop striving to eradicate this dreaded disease.