NOAH LIFF

It is only right that this lovely landmark facility be named for Noah Liff, was himself, an epic figure. A child of immigrants, he was intelligent, motivated, and courageous, and in 1949, at age 20, a newly minted graduate of Indiana University business school, he joined his father in a small family scrap business. He was emblematic of the America of that time; young, fresh, optimistic, energetic, hardworking and, above all, a fervent patriot. Against a backdrop of peace and the entrepreneurially friendly economy of the 1950’s, Noah fully embraced the opportunities that this newly burgeoning industry offered, quickly rising to become a mighty force in the recycling industry. As an interatomically recognized expert, he was instrumental in the development of and use of new products and processes that were both ecologically innovative and strikingly ahead of their time.

Most importantly, Noah was personally and philanthropically generous, passionate, and grateful. He fervently loved his country, his family, his Judaism, his community, art, and the opera. He lived the end of his life with elegance, acceptance, and a humble recognition of the forces greater than we are. With no hesitation, his choice of what was to be his last outing was an evening at the opera. That is why we are standing here today.