Hobart and William Smith Colleges

4 September 2002 Herbert J. Stern 58 honored at Convocation

An enthusiastic crowd of students, faculty, trustees and friends gathered in Bristol Gymnasium on Tuesday, September 3, 2002, to help usher in the new academic year at the annual Academic Convocation. Judge Herbert J. Stern 58 trustee and benefactor of Stern Hall, the new academic building currently under construction on Smith Green, was the evenings keynote speaker.

After an opening prayer by the Reverend Lesley Adams, chaplain of the Colleges, words of welcome were offered by President Mark D. Gearan and Provost and Dean of Faculty Patricia Stranahan. Charles H. Salisbury, Jr. 63, chairman of the Board of Trustees, introduced Stern and spoke of Stern's long and illustrious career as a lawyer and jurist and of his dedication to his family. Sterns keynote focused on the people who had gone before and noted What will survive is the notion even if only vaguely perceived that there were people here once, no matter how long before, who cared enough to reach across an immeasurable gulf to those whom they knew would come after.

Professor of Economics Alan Frishman, and Director of Admissions Mara O'Laughlin 66, presented the faculty and staff responses, respectively, followed by Margaret D. Marsh 03 and Ryan Gillmore 03, representing William Smith Congress and Hobart Student Government, presented Judge Stern with gifts and their thanks.

Immediately following Convocation, Stern, accompanied by his wife Marsha and children Sara and Sam 03, and a small group of faculty and staff went to the building site to lay the cornerstone of Stern Hall. Hillel Programs Professional Lorinda Weinstock offered prayer and reflection.

A dinner in Sterns honor was held at Houghton house for approximately 70 invited guests, at which Board Chairman Salisbury, Board Vice Chairwoman Maureen Collins Zupan 72, Professor of Philosophy Scott Brophy 78 and Sam Stern 03 offered toasts.

The speeches from Convocation may be seen at http://www.hws.edu/news/speakers/transcripts/index.asp.

Read the story Hobart Grad Helps Lay Cornerstone from the September 4 Finger Lakes Times.