Stephen Mermelstein, JD ’72, Gives $4 Million to GW Law and GWU

Stephen E. Mermelstein earned three degrees from George Washington University–associate’s, bachelor’s, and law degrees–and went on to a successful career as an attorney and investor. He died in February 2017 at the age of 70, and one third of his estate–about $4 million–is going to GWU and GW Law School.

The gift will establish the Stephen Mermelstein Law School Endowment and the Stephen E. Mermelstein Endowment Fund in the Columbian College.

Stephen earned his AA in 1966 and followed that with a bachelor’s degree from the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at GWU. In 1972 he earned his JD from GW Law, where his father, Milton E. Mermelstein, had also earned his law degree. Stephen practiced as a tax attorney and for many years was involved in real estate investing.

A New Jersey native, Stephen lived most of his adult life in Boston. He had a home and rental property in Back Bay, one of the most beautiful and expensive neighborhoods in the city. He also had a home in Wailuku, Hawaii. He was considered extremely generous and often allowed his friends to use his Hawaii home for vacations and business trips.

Stephen felt very devoted to George Washington for his education and had planned for many years to make the gift. GW Law and GWU together will be dividing a third of his estate. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is also getting a third, as is Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.