Prominent New York businessman David B. Ford, a Florida State University alumnus and former member of the FSU Board of Trustees who had a passion for student success, died Sept. 20 of complications related to cancer. He was 74.

Ford changed the lives of countless FSU students through his investment in programs that helped them achieve prestigious academic awards and national recognition.

“David was an extraordinarily kind, generous and intelligent man who loved Florida State University,” said President John Thrasher. “David always expressed genuine interest in our students and invested in their potential. He was a visionary whose legacy reflects his belief that FSU students could change the world through innovative scholarship and transformative leadership. We will miss him greatly.”

Ford graduated from FSU in 1968 and earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1970. His academic success prompted an immediate offer from Goldman Sachs where he worked for 33 years, serving in numerous roles including managing director of the firm and co-head of the asset management division. He retired in 2003 to pursue his philanthropic interests.