Pictured above: Agnes and Nicholas Renzi
When Nicholas and Agnes Renzi moved to Cortland in 1971, they didn’t just settle into a new town — they became part of its fabric. Over the next five decades, they poured their time, talent and resources into the place they proudly called home. Their lives were marked by humility, gratitude and a deep belief that strong communities thrive when neighbors care for one another.
Today, that belief lives on through a transformational bequest that will support Cortland County residents for generations.
Nick grew up in the Bronx as the son of Italian immigrants who instilled in him the importance of hard work and giving what you can. A talented student, he earned a scholarship to City College of New York before completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Columbia University. Those opportunities shaped the rest of his life, fueling a deep appreciation for education and a desire to help others access the same.
His career with Pall Corporation ultimately brought him to Cortland, where he rose to senior vice president overseeing operations in Cortland and Puerto Rico. Agnes was equally devoted to service. A certified braille transcriber, she spent more than two decades making books accessible to children who are blind, lovingly translating elementary school texts through the National Braille Association. Certified by the Library of Congress, she completed thousands of hours of painstaking, quiet work that improved the lives of young readers she would never meet.
Together, Nick and Agnes lived their values: family first, community always and gratitude expressed through action.
The Renzis’ generosity touched Cortland in ways both visible and unseen. During his lifetime, Nick contributed $1 million to establish the Renzi Cancer Center at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center and another $1 million to the Guthrie Cortland Renzi Health Campus. He also funded community enhancements such as the Westminster chimes dedicated at the Cincinnatus Area Heritage Society in 2021.
Agnes passed away in 2020; Nick continued their charitable work until his death in 2025. In keeping with their shared wishes, he directed in his will that the Central New York Community Foundation steward their final act of generosity.
Through their estate and lifetime giving, the Renzis established two endowed funds at the Community Foundation: the Nicholas and Agnes Renzi Charitable Fund, supporting the nonprofit organizations they loved most, and the Nicholas & Agnes Renzi Fund for Cortland County, a more than $14 million endowment that will provide broad support for Cortland residents far into the future.
Endowed funds are structured to last for generations: a portion is granted out annually while the remainder is invested for long-term growth. Over time, the cumulative impact is expected to surpass the original gift many times over — a model that resonated deeply with Nick’s thoughtful, forward-looking approach to service and planning.
“Nick and Agnes believed deeply in giving back to the community that became their home,” said Melanie Littlejohn, president & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Their generosity will empower Cortland County nonprofits to create lasting change. We are honored to steward their legacy and ensure their impact continues in perpetuity.”
The Renzi Fund for Cortland County will expand the Community Foundation’s Community Grants program into Cortland County for the first time, opening new opportunities for nonprofits across health, human services, education, arts and culture, environment, civic engagement and more. It will also support participatory budgeting, inviting residents to help identify local priorities and shape solutions — a reflection of the Renzis’ belief that communities are strongest when everyone has a voice.
“This is a true turning point for our local nonprofit sector,” said Community Foundation board member and Cortland resident Catherine Bertini. “The Renzi family’s generosity will open doors for greater collaboration, innovation and stability.”
Nick and Agnes’s final gift is a continuation of that gratitude, ensuring that children, families and neighbors will have access to care, opportunity and support long into the future.
Their legacy is one of quiet service and profound impact, a reflection of who they were and what they believed: that a community thrives when everyone is given the chance to succeed. Through their endowed funds, the Renzis’ generosity will echo forward, strengthening Cortland forever.
