‘Syracuse University Winter’ Inspires June Giving

On a winter day 25 years ago, Paul Parpard G’94, then a professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, observed the view from his office in Lyman Hall on campus. From his window he could see the snow-covered turrets of Tolley Hall and the rooftops of Maxwell Hall and Crouse College. Inspired, he snapped a photo, which he then used to create a beautiful painting he named “Syracuse University Winter.”

This year, Parpard’s painting was chosen as the winner of the second annual Syracuse University Poster Challenge. Those who make a gift of at least $25 to the Annual Fund before June 30 will receive one of 600 numbered, limited-edition posters. The Annual Fund supports the University’s highest priorities.

Parpard, 82, is an accomplished artist, designer, painter, sculptor and wood carver. He lives in Cazenovia, New York, where he also has had an art studio since 1968.

Parpard began working as a graphic designer for the University, creating brochures, pamphlets and promotional materials. Some of his favorite projects were designing the holiday cards for the football and basketball teams. He also created the logo for Syracuse Football’s 100-year anniversary in 1989.

Transitioning to education, Parpard served as a professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts for more than 10 years, teaching communication design, advertising design and computer graphic design. In 1994, he earned a master of fine arts from the University.

Some of his favorite years at the University were from 1985-89 when his daughter, Denise Parpard Harrison G’89, was a student in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Later, when Denise worked in New York city in promotional marketing for CHANEL, Estée Lauder and Lancôme, Parpard planned an annual trip to the city for his students to go to museums and art studios and visit Denise at her job to meet with the design departments.

The Parpard family enjoys rooting for Syracuse sports, especially football and basketball. Parpard loves to go to games in the JMA Wireless Dome and even celebrated his 80th birthday there at the Paul McCartney concert in 2022.

He is grateful to Syracuse’s advancement staff for choosing his painting “Syracuse University Winter” as the art poster to support the Forever Orange Campaign. “It’s great to think that Syracuse alumni all around the country will have a copy of this poster,” he says. “It means a lot to me to be able to help raise scholarship money for future Syracuse students.”

Claim your limited-edition poster by making your gift of at least $25 to the Annual Fund before June 30.