University’s second largest benefactor dies

George Rowland White, the single largest benefactor to Point Park University and the man behind the well-known initials "GRW," died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at Allegheny General Hospital. He was 82.

According to a news release by Point Park on Jan. 16, White earned his bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University, his master's degree from University of California Los Angeles and his doctorate from Iowa State University.

In 1995, White was named a member of the Point Park University Board of Trustees.

While on Point Park's Board of Trustees, White served on various committees and became the Library Center Program Manager where he oversaw the "development and construction of Point Park's state-of-the-art library," also noted in a news release.

In addition to serving on Point Park's Board, White served on the boards of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks and the Pittsburgh Opera.

"A dedicated supporter of culture and the arts at Point Park and in the City of Pittsburgh, [White] actively sought to engage, challenge and better not only the Point Park community, but also the greater community in which he lived and worked for nearly 25 years," said university President Paul Hennigan in the press release.

The most obvious contributions White made to Point Park were the funds for the George Rowland White Theater and the George Rowland White Dance Complex, which houses four dance studios built in 2007 with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification.

"The Conservatory has many reasons to be grateful to George, the most visible, perhaps, is the studios in the LEED certified Dance Complex," said Fredrick Johnson, Conservatory of Performing Arts Dean, in an email interview on Jan. 19.

 In August 2011, White and his wife Kathleen gave a $1 million gift to Point Park's School of Business.

As mentioned in a news release, this gift was to establish an "endowed professorship in Accounting and Finance and to fund the Urban Accounting Initiative, an effort to increase awareness of careers in accounting and finance among minority youth." In addition, this gift made it possible for the School of Business to "establish a leadership role among community and business leaders." White was then featured on the cover of the Fall 2011 edition of The Point magazine with Hennigan.

"As the single largest benefactor in the history of Point Park University, [White] made major contribution to the arts, business and new facilities. He shared a vision for Point Park's future and worked tirelessly to fulfill it," said Richard Haskins, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, in an email interview on Jan. 19.

According to an obituary printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan. 19, White was a physicist at Sperry Rand Corp. and Xerox and was later an educator at Harvard University. Following his third retirement, White moved to Pittsburgh in 1985 to take on a role as vice president for research at the University of Pittsburgh.

 Employees at Point Park who met White will remember him for his devotion to the Pittsburgh area.

"George's influence was felt in countless ways and his contributions to the transformation of the Conservatory, the university and the region will stand as an enduring legacy," Johnson said.

Haskins reflected on White's contributions to the Point Park community.

 "[White] was a philanthropist who was dedicated to the civic, educational and cultural life of Pittsburgh. He was a tireless advocate and major donor who believed in helping minority and disadvantaged students gain access to a university education," Haskins said. "Everyone who had the privilege of knowing him will miss his dedication to Point Park, his towering intellect and engaging personality."