Gerber Hall is Officially Unveiled
April 21, 2017
On Friday, April 21, the freshman and sophomore residence hall formerly known as Botwinik Hall, transformed into Gerber Hall with a dedication ceremony held to honor Murray Gerber.
Opening for the ceremony, and as Gerber, now 81, and his family rode up to the scene on a golf cart, the University of New Haven Chargers Marching Band played several tunes, including the University fight song.
With University administrators and guests such as President Steven Kaplan, Samuel Bergami, Phil Bartels, various deans, the Chargers football team, the Office of Residential Life, and many other community members, the common room on the bottom floor was packed.
President Kaplan started off the ceremony, citing the years of experience Gerber has in the world of business, surrounding his time earning an EMBA from the University in 1979. Since then, Gerber was a Board of Governors member for 20 years, started a scholarship with his late wife, and is a lifetime season ticket holder for the New Haven Chargers football team.
Bartels, chairman of the Board of Governors, also spoke about the commitment Gerber has made to education.
Coach Chris Pincince and a player from the Chargers football team presented Gerber with a surprise for him and his son: two signed helmets and footballs from the team.
Gerber stepped up to make remarks, thanking the many people involved and his family for being with him. He started by saying, “My contribution to the quality of this event is that I will make my remarks brief.”
Gerber highlighted the most meaningful parts of his life, and outlined how the University lead him towards success.
“I can honestly say that this was the only time I actually enjoyed my education,” he said.
After the ceremony, the entire audience transferred to the quad in from of Gerber Hall, where members of the marching bad were ready to give a drum roll, which lead up to the “pulling of the strings,” as President Kaplan called it, officially unveiling the new name where Norman I Botwinik’s used to be.
Gerber proved to the crowd his love for the University of New Haven and the words his colleagues used to describe him with his last words:
“Go Chargers.”