Steven J. Schochet Biography

Steven J. Schochet was born and raised in the Twin Cities. In 1955, Schochet enrolled at the University of Minnesota. He experienced great difficulties – both academic and personal – when he came out on campus. In spite of the hostile climate on campus, he ran for and won a seat on the Coffman Union Board of Governors and also served as a representative to the Interfraternity Council.

In 1959, after graduating from the University, Schochet worked in the nascent computer industry in Philadelphia. In setting up the Steven J. Schochet Endowment at the University of Minnesota in 1996, he was furthering his work with the GLBT community.

Specifically, the Endowment was a gift of accountability. In his own words “the University is accountable for its history even if it is not totally responsible for it. I want to do what I can to guarantee a future in which such situations can’t happen again. I am supporting the GLBT folks on campus and trying to make their individual and collective experience more positive and secure.”

In 2004, Steven Schochet passed away after a long battle with HIV/AIDS. But his legacy lives on permanently both here at the University and in the larger community through the Steven J. Schochet Endowment.