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A List
3/3/08
Members Of Bewkes Family Pledge $2 Million To SLU For Science Facilities
CANTON - A son and grandson of the late St. Lawrence University President Emeritus
Eugene Garrett Bewkes have pledged $2 million to the next phase of renovations to
science facilities, including the building named for him.
University President Daniel F. Sullivan has announced that former trustee
E. Garrett "Gar" Bewkes III and his father, E. Garrett "Garry" Bewkes Jr.,
have pledged $2 million toward a project cost of $2.5 million for the first
portion of Phase II of an overall plan to improve science facilities at
St. Lawrence.
The dedication of the $36.9 million Johnson Hall of Science in the fall of
2007 completed Phase I of the overall science project, giving new space to
the disciplines of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience and
psychology. Phase II will include renovations to Bewkes, Valentine and
Flint Halls. The University plans to invest up to $60 million to complete
the entire science project.
The first steps in Phase II will be construction of a receiving center to be
accessed by all science departments, interim renovations to Valentine and Flint
Halls to accommodate programs over the next three to five years; basic
renovations to Bewkes to house arts faculty and some classes as renovations to
Griffiths are under way next year; and creation of a permanent home for the
Quantitative Resource Center in Valentine.
"We are deeply grateful to the Bewkes family for this most generous and
meaningful gift," Sullivan said, "which will allow us to continue the ambitious plans we
have for improving facilities for science education at St. Lawrence, providing
additional opportunities for faculty-student collaboration in research and adding
value to the investments made thus far."
Gar Bewkes said, "My grandfather was one of the longest-serving presidents in
St. Lawrence history. Bewkes Hall was originally dedicated in his name, to
recognize his accomplishments on behalf of the University and honor his service.
With the sciences so critical to a liberal arts education in today's world, our
family wanted to participate in making sure that Bewkes Hall was fully equipped
for contemporary study, assuring his legacy for dedicated service to a place he
loved."
Vice President for Advancement Michael P. Archibald said, "This recent generous
pledge from Gar and Garry Bewkes has enabled the current Campaign, Momentum
St. Lawrence, to surpass the $132 million total of the University's previous
largest Campaign, Campaign St. Lawrence, completed in 2002. We look forward
to the continued successful progress toward our $200 million goal before the
Campaign ends on December 31, 2010."
Eugene G. Bewkes was president of St. Lawrence from 1945 to 1963; Bewkes Science
Hall was dedicated in 1968. Currently it houses physics department labs, classes
and offices, and the Quantitative Resource Center, founded in 2007 to "facilitate,
encourage and develop quantitative reasoning, skills and applications for
the St. Lawrence University community."
Garry Bewkes is retired as a consultant to the Paine Webber Group; he is an
attorney and was an executive with American Bakeries Company and Norton Simon Inc.
He is also chair emeritus of the Board of Trustees of Colgate University.
Gar Bewkes is founder and managing partner of GarMark Advisors in Stamford,
Connecticut; he was previously an executive with Investcorp, Bear Stearns,
Manufacturers Hanover and Citibank. From 1992 through 2001, he was a University trustee.
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More: Science at St. Lawrence
Legacy of Loyalty: The Bewkes Family at St. Lawrence
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