Pugsley’s Bequest Will Provide Faculty Support in Sociology

Robert “Bob” Pugsley has had a long and distinguished career, including providing legal commentary on criminal law issues during numerous high-profile trials through a vast array of media outlets. He has been interviewed by CNN, Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune.

Bob graduated from Stony Brook University in 1968 with a BA in sociology and credits much of his success to the education and opportunities that his time at Stony Brook provided. After leaving Stony Brook, he went on to earn a JD and LLM in criminal justice from New York University School of Law and launched into a vibrant career as a legal educator, teaching courses in Criminal Law and Constitutional Criminal Procedure.

When finalizing his estate plan, Bob shared with his advisor that he wanted to consider leaving a significant gift to Stony Brook. Together with his legal counsel, Bob settled on a residuary bequest, which will be used to give all the “rest, residue, and remainder” of his property after debts, taxes, expenses, and specific bequests have been paid. With this model, Bob was able to leave specific gifts to family, friends, and other charities that he cares about, with the rest of his estate left to Stony Brook.

Bob plans to make a substantial gift toward faculty support to the sociology department of Stony Brook University. "I am proud to be able to leave a lasting legacy that will benefit the students, faculty, and the larger community at Stony Brook."

Faculty support is a time-honored means of attracting eminent scholars and retaining and rewarding outstanding current faculty. The greatest institutions have the best minds, the most creative researchers, and the most engaged faculty. Building a mighty base of faculty talent enriches the academic environment, which then attracts the brightest students. Our faculty help elevate the prestige and quality of Stony Brook University, the most iconic public institution on Long Island and the number one public university in New York.