Dr. Marvin E. Gilmore Jr. ’51 DP, ’24 hon. DM is a distinguished WWII Veteran, civil rights activist and business entrepreneur, recently named a Boston “Hero” on the 1965 Freedom Plaza that surrounds the Embrace sculpture in Boston Common. A U.S. Army D-Day Veteran, his illustrious career and cultural legacy include establishing Unity Bank—the first Black-owned bank in Massachusetts, opening a Cambridge Jazz and Reggae club called The Western Front in 1968, and serving as President and CEO for the Community Development Corporation of Boston for 43 years, just to name a few.
Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from NEC in 2024, Marvin E. Gilmore, Jr. has always understood that music is not merely an art form—it is a vehicle for social progress and unity. His passion for jazz, his collaborations with world-renowned artists, and his enduring support for young musicians have enriched the cultural fabric of the nation.
Together with his family, friends, and loved ones, Marvin established The Marvin & Lorna Gilmore Student Legacy Fund, which provides need-based financial support to New England Conservatory students facing unexpected financial expenses not otherwise covered by financial aid. The fund aims to provide financial relief to eligible students, assisting them to overcome financial obstacles and continue to pursue their lives in music, ranging from education (non-tuition) and performance-related costs, to bills and other living expenses that would otherwise be prohibitive to their academic and musical pursuits.
All are invited to an enigmatic celebration of Marvin's life and legacy on the occasion of his 102nd Birthday!
Sunday, September 27, 2026
3:00pm - 8:00pm
La Fábrica, Central Square, Cambridge
