Gift honors memory of "Sonny" Werblin
Archived article from Dec 1, 2000
By Harvey Trabb
Scholarships, a recreation center and capital needs for intercollegiate athletics at Rutgers will all benefit from a $1 million gift to the university announced by President Francis L. Lawrence. The gift was presented by Thomas D. Werblin, a vice president of the New York City–based Werblin Foundation.
Werblin's father, the late David A. "Sonny" Werblin, a 1931 graduate, was a noted sports and entertainment leader and the first chair of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. A one-time owner of the New York Jets, he also served as CEO of the Madison Square Garden Corp. He spent many years as a member of Rutgers' governing boards, where he played a leading role in the university's fund-raising efforts. He died in 1991.
"Sonny Werblin was a loyal alumnus and booster of Rutgers athletics," Lawrence said. "He believed in excellence both on the playing field and in the classroom. This generous gift will benefit Rutgers scholar-athletes for generations to come, and perpetuate the name and fame of one of our most illustrious alumni."
A portion of the gift, which will be made to Rutgers over a five-year period, will enable the university to create two new fully endowed scholarships for deserving students under the existing Werblin Endowed Scholarship fund. Werblin Scholarships provide financial assistance to members of the men's and women's golf and swimming teams. The gift will also provide funds to support future expansion needs at the university's football complex and Louis Brown Athletic Center, and the creation of a new multipurpose room in the university's Werblin Recreation Center.
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