On May 22, 2026, Farmingdale State College (FSC) was proud to confer an honorary doctorate degree from the State University of New York during the 2026 commencement exercises at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Murray Pasternack, AAS ’60, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, marking the first honorary degree awarded from FSC since 2017.
“It has been nearly 66 years since I graduated from what was then called the State University of New York Agricultural and Technical Institute at Farmingdale. Back then, I could never have imagined that, in the far distant future, I would return to receive an honorary doctorate and deliver the commencement address to a class of more than 2,000 graduates at my alma mater,” Pasternack shared in his keynote address. “I have been incredibly fortunate to live the American Dream, and it all began with the education and inspiration I received at Farmingdale.”
Pasternack began his journey at FSC as a student of electrical technology and went on to build a career defined by innovation, leadership, and service. Earning his Associate of Applied Science degree in 1960, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor degrees 16 years later, while working full time.
“I spent nine and a half years taking night courses in applied physics, economics, finance, and law. I worked at seven different businesses, absorbing everything I could before founding my first major business, Pasternack Enterprises, in 1972,” he shared.
Pasternack spent more than six decades at the forefront of the radio frequency (RF) and microwave electronics industries. As founder and CEO of the Electro-Physics Corporation of America, and earlier as founder of Pasternack Enterprises, he helped shape a global marketplace for high-performance electronic components. His work with Environmental Communications, Inc. and Varian Associates contributed to foundational advancements in research and development during the rise of Silicon Valley. He also served as a licensed attorney and as a founder and director of Capital Bank, advancing economic growth and opportunity.
“It is important to remember the journey that leads someone to a life of giving back. Today Murray is an engineer, entrepreneur, attorney, and philanthropist, but that journey began right here with a degree in electrical technology from Farmingdale State College,” said Robert S. Prezant, PhD, president of FSC.
On campus, it is Pasternack’s extraordinary commitment to giving back that most profoundly defines his legacy. Together with his wife Judy, he is the largest individual donor in FSC history, contributing more than $8 million, including a transformative $5 million gift to expand scholarships, strengthen student support, and elevate STEM education. His impact is visible across campus from the RF and microwave technology lab in Lupton Hall, to the student-managed investment fund and trading room in the School of Business, to the launch of the Honors Program.
Pasternack has advanced applied learning, fostered innovation, and championed access and equity in education, particularly within engineering and technology fields.
“His life and work embody the very ideals of the State University of New York: access, opportunity, excellence, and service,” said President Prezant. “His achievements and generosity stand as an enduring example for FSC graduates and for generations to come.”
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