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Alumni News
Nursing Dedication
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Morris W. Offit Honored Morris W. Offit, A&S '57, was honored in June as Philanthropist of the Year by the Greater New York Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Besides his long-time leadership at Johns Hopkins, Mr. Offit was recognized for serving a broad range of New York area civic, religious, educational, and preservationist organizations.
Looking toward 1999
Ross Jones, A&S '53
"This is tough for someone who has always thought he knew
everything that was going on."
So quipped Ross Jones after his first emotional response to the
news that trustees, colleagues, and other friends are
contributing more than $2 million to name a wing of Homewood's
planned student arts center in his honor.
Mr. Jones, who retired as vice president at the end of June after
serving Johns Hopkins for 37 years, was surprised with news of
the gift at a dinner in his honor on June 8 hosted by the
University's Board of Trustees.
"It's very hard to believe," he told the trustees. "I thank you
for this tremendous tribute, and one that goes on forever. I'm
deeply touched."
A 1953 graduate of Hopkins, Ross Jones returned to the University
in 1961 as assistant to President Milton S. Eisenhower and has
been a close aide to six presidents. As secretary of the Board
of Trustees, he has worked with five board chairmen. At various
times, Mr. Jones has headed the University's
communications,
fund-raising, and alumni
relations programs and has supervised operations in the
president's office.
Three close friends who attended Hopkins with Mr. Jones created a
fund to honor him and sent a letter inviting contributions.
Nearly 100 trustees, friends, and associates responded with
pledges totaling more than $2 million. The donors include all
five living Johns Hopkins presidents.
"We wanted to recognize both an extraordinary personal friendship
and his long, distinguished association with Hopkins," said
classmate Andrew J. Bozzelli, Engr '53, who headed the effort
with fellow trustees R. Champlin Sheridan, A&S '52, and Wendell
A. Smith, A&S '54. "We're long-time friends who wanted to do it;
that's all."
Robert R. Lindgren, the University's vice president for
development and alumni relations, said he had never before seen
such a tribute to an individual. "To raise this kind of money in
someone's honor is absolutely remarkable," he commented, "and
certainly speaks to Ross's many fine qualities."
The gift will help make a long-planned student arts center a
reality. Construction of the $17 million center, along Charles
Street near 33rd Street, is expected to begin this fall. A total
of $14.5 million has been raised.
The easternmost of the center's three connected wings will be
named in Ross Jones's honor. That building will include offices
for student groups and publications, practice rooms for student
musicians, and space for the visual arts. Other wings will house
facilities for performing arts and for students working with
electronic media.
Mr. Sheridan said that a building that will enhance undergraduate
student life was "a natural" choice for honoring Mr. Jones
because of his close association with students and his dedication
over the years to their well-being.
"When we started looking at naming opportunities, a wing in the
arts center flashed out like a beacon," Mr. Smith remarked.
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Bronk Award Following the Peabody Symphony Orchestra's debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, Broadway composer and arranger Luther Henderson, right, received the Detlev W. Bronk Award of the New York metropolitan alumni chapter in recognition of his achievements. He is shown talking during the reception with Gene Detroyer, A&S '69, left, president of the New York chapter and vice president of the Alumni Council, and Rick Carr, Engr '78, treasurer of the alumni chapter and member of the Alumni Council executive committee.
Pavilion Dedicated
For further information, click on http://www.jhu.edu/~alumni/, or phone 410-516-0363 or 800-548-5481.
Chicago Reception
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