Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends
Brandeis Remembers Alan Hassenfeld
July 15, 2025
The former CEO of Hasbro was a close friend and generous supporter of the university.
The Brandeis community remembers Alan G. Hassenfeld, HHL’20, who died last week in London at the age of 76. He was the former chairman and CEO of Hasbro Inc., the iconic toy maker, and a close friend of the university.
Born into the storied Hassenfeld family of Providence, R.I., he joined his grandfather’s company Hasbro in 1970 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. He ascended through marketing and international roles before succeeding his brother Stephen as CEO in 1989. Under his leadership, Hasbro expanded globally and cemented its status as a cultural icon with brands like G.I. Joe, Play‑Doh, and Monopoly.
Following his tenure at Hasbro, he devoted himself to steering the Hassenfeld Family Foundation — a philanthropic organization with the goals of globalizing safety and human rights within children's products; empowering women in developing countries; and improving the economy, education, and business opportunities around the world.
A proud benefactor of Brandeis University, he continued a tradition started by his mother Sylvia, who was among the members of the American Jewish community that founded Brandeis University in 1948 to educate Jews and other ethnic and racial minorities and women who faced discrimination elsewhere in higher education.
Hassenfeld was a long-time member and past co‑chair of the Brandeis International Business School’s (BIBS) Board of Advisors, a frequent guest lecturer in business classes, and a generous donor. He funded the Hassenfeld Family Innovation Center; endowed the Hassenfeld Immersion Program, which gives students global business exposure; and established the Evergreen Scholarship Fund for international students in need of financial assistance. He was also one of several key donors to establish the Peace Scholarship, which offers full tuition to students forced to leave their countries due to violent conflict or persecution. Brandeis honored Hassenfeld with an honorary doctorate in 2020.
Additionally, Hassenfeld was a founding benefactor of Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence and established the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University.
Alan Hassenfeld will be remembered as a visionary leader whose passion for innovation, compassion for children, and dedication to education left an indelible mark on communities — locally and globally. His legacy lives on through the institutions he helped shape and the lives he touched.