Scott C. Lederman, retired treasurer at the University of Pennsylvania, has died at 84

Scott C. Lederman, 84, formerly of Wyncote, retired treasurer at the University of Pennsylvania, mentor, fun-loving role model, and veteran, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, of complications from a stroke at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden.

Born on an Army base in Panama and reared in New York, Mr. Lederman arrived in Philadelphia in 1967 to attend Penn’s Wharton School. He never left.

He took a job with Wharton’s graduate school in 1969 and established its first Office of Student Affairs. He rose to executive assistant to Penn’s vice president for management in 1972, vice president of the school’s subsidiary investment firm in 1975, director of investments in 1982, and university treasurer in 1987.

When he retired in 1999, John Fry, then executive vice president at Penn, praised Mr. Lederman’s “creative leadership” and “many contributions” in a story for Penn’s Almanac publication. Kathy Engebretson, then Penn’s vice president for finance, said Mr. Lederman’s “expansive knowledge of Penn, good humor, and warm personality will be missed by all.”

Mr. Lederman told the Almanac then: “The relationships I’ve developed over the years with the great people at Penn are what I will remember and cherish the most.” In an online tribute, his family said: “He was a Penn man through and through.”

Over his 30 years as an administrator at Penn, Mr. Lederman, among other things, designed a new budgeting procedure, lobbied for more child daycare funding, created the school’s first cash management program, developed an endowment spending rule, and oversaw the school’s real estate subsidiary.

In 1983, he supervised Penn’s divesting from firms associated with the apartheid government in South Africa. In 1986, he teamed with investment managers John Neff and Richard Worley to catapult Penn’s endowment fund from dead last in the national rankings to top of the list.

He also served as chair, treasurer, and board member of Penn’s West Philadelphia Partnership with the community. He was quoted often in The Inquirer and Daily News. “He worked hard every day, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” said his wife, Abby. “He really cared.”

Mr. Lederman earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York in 1964 and a master’s degree at Wharton in 1977. He served three years in the Army in Germany and Vietnam, and rose to the rank of captain.

In retirement, he mentored other men and led personal transformation sessions as director for the Philadelphia Center of the Mankind Project. “He sought me out and taught me about facing fear with a little bit of humor,” one of his former Mankind mentees said in a Facebook tribute. “He was a positive voice when I needed one.”

Other friends called him a “beautiful man with a beautiful heart,” a “special person,” and a “passionate, deeply caring man.” One said: “He’s the father I always wanted.”

Scott Charles Lederman was born June 29, 1941, on an Army base in Panama. He grew up in Bellmore, N.Y., and met Abby Merriam in 1973 at 30th Street Station on a blind date.

They married in September 1973, had sons Tim and Max, and a daughter, Annie, and lived in West Philadelphia, East Oak Lane, Wyncote, Wyndmoor, and Marlton, N.J. His family said: “He devoted himself to partnership, family, and laughter.”

Mr. Lederman was a member of the Mensa high IQ society. He enjoyed vacations in Cape May, leftovers, and in-depth conversations with family, friends, and colleagues.

He was routinely kind and fun-loving, everyone said. His son Tim said: “He couldn’t tell a joke without laughing at it himself.” His son Max said: “He was savagely optimistic.”

He liked to camp, ride his bicycle, and chomp on chocolate. He underwent several heart surgeries and liked to tell people: “Today is the best day of your life.”

He received daily meditation emails, and his mantra was “blue skies.” He and his family posed for humorous dress up photos every year. This year, they are dressing up as him.

He and his daughter were best friends, she said, and they bought matching mood rings years ago. “We had fun all the time,” she said. “We were partners in crime. He and I were Team Fun. Everyone else was Team Responsible. My absolute hero.”

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His son Tim said: “He was a comforter, a counselor.” His son Max said: “He believed in me, and that made me believe in myself.” His wife said: “He never judged people. He loved everyone.”

In a 2019 personal essay, Mr. Lederman wrote about what he called “this miraculous eternal journey.” He said: “The idea of going back to my eternal home is, I believe, a source of one of my deepest longings.”

In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Lederman is survived by four grandchildren, two sisters, and other relatives.

A celebration of his life is to be held later.

“In lieu of flowers,” his family said, “tell someone you love them.”