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The Adlers’ Long Story of Love & Life Began at Nyack Hospital 40 Years Ago; Hospital President & CEO Credits Adler With Raising Money & Profile for Once-Struggling Hospital
By Tina Traster
Montefiore Nyack Hospital, Paul Adler said, is where four generations of his family have been born, including his brood of grandchildren.
“This is not a statistic,” said Adler, who serves as the Chair of the Montefiore Nyack Hospital Foundation. “It’s a love story.”
It’s also, he said, choking on tears, where his wife Mary Adler’s life was saved after a bicycle accident in Nyack.
A room filled with family, friends and colleagues joined Paul and Mary Adler on Tuesday to celebrate the dedication of the Paul & Mary Adler Conference Room.
“Some people make a difference through their work,” said Mark Geller, President and CEO of Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “Others make a difference through their generosity. Paul and Mary have done both, and they have done it with heart, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the Montefiore Nyack Hospital.”
Geller credited the hospital’s 125th Anniversary celebration – one of the most successful fundraising initiatives – to Paul Adler’s leadership, adding the hospital raised more than $1.2 million in philanthropic support.
He also said Adler helped champion the multimillion-dollar transformation project “inspiring donors, community leaders, and elected officials to invest in a bold vision for the future.”
Paul Adler also played a critical role in securing government funding that strengthened the hospital’s long-term financial stability.
“Paul strengthened the Foundation’s partnership with our medical staff, expanded our culture of philanthropy, and helped grow the Grateful Patient Program,” which encourages families to support the hospital.
The emotional event turned on Paul and Mary’s meet-cute story that began in the 1980s when the couple met in the hospital cafeteria. Although he had been told there was a no egg rule after 1:00pm, he convinced Mary, who was working in the cafeteria to make him eggs. At the time, he was working at the hospital in government affairs. From there blossomed romance – they stole their first kiss there – and built a life together. Paul said their five children had been born in the hospital and now the next generation too.
“Everybody’s been born here,” he said. “This is the heart of our community.”
Public officials including County Executive Ed Day, District Attorney Tom Walsh, Nyack Mayor Joe Rand attended the event. Paul Adler acknowledged the Rands, for whom he has worked selling commercial real estate for decades.
With babies and toddlers, alongside high-profile people, the event blended music, speeches, and packaged lunches. The hospital no longer has a cafeteria.
In 2026, Paul was the recipient of the President’s Award from The Rockland County Ministers Alliance Choir and The Holocaust Museum Center for Tolerance and Education Elie Wiesel Memorial Award, which he shared with his wife Mary Adler.
In 2025, Paul received the Volunteer New York! Volunteer Spirit Award for his work with the Nyack NAACP and was honored by the Jewish Business Network with the Gabelli Leadership Award.
In 2024, Paul was a United Negro Scholarship Fund Honoree. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, Paul received the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors (NYSCAR) Economic Development Award.
In 2023, Paul received the Humanitarian Award from Operation Santa Claus, JCC of Rockland Founder Visionnaire. Paul also completed “Getting to the Root”, a two-day intensive training on racial justice.
In 2022, Paul received the SIOR designation from The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.
Paul currently serves on the Montefiore-Nyack Hospital Board of Trustees as Vice-Chairman, and is Board Chair Montefiore-Nyack Hospital Foundation, Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance & Education Board of Trustees, and the Board of Directors of the following: Westchester County Association-Executive Committee, Center For Safety and Change, Justice Brandeis Law Society-9th JD-Executive Committee, Nyack Branch of the NAACP-Executive Board-Chair, Civic Engagement Committee, Rockland Clergy for Social Justice-Executive Committee, NY Democratic Lawyer Council-Steering Committee, Rockland League of Women Voters, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation Alt. Board Member and JCC of Rockland-Past President and Founding Board Member.
Mary Adler is a licensed commercial real estate professional working for Rand Commercial Services. She worked at Nyack Hospital in food services from 1974 to 1984. She is a member of the Nyack Architectural Review Board.
