Posted on 08/24/2002 9:37:01 PM PDT by pittsburgh gop guy
10 years after bequest, county's Catholic schools find $1.8 million gift is on its way
Sunday, August 25, 2002
By Eleanor Chute, Post-Gazette Education Writer
Edward S. Gaber has been dead for nearly 10 years, but his name is on the minds of every Catholic parish elementary school principal in Allegheny County.
That's because his will included a gift of about $1.8 million to be divided evenly among the 74 schools over the next two years. Last week, each school received this year's gift of about $12,500.
Gaber, a bachelor who belonged to St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon, died in 1992 at the age of 72.
He made his money at the Penn Window Cleaning Co., which was founded by his grandfather in 1917 and continued by Gaber and his late brother, Steven Sr., after they returned from serving in World War II.
After his death, it took time for the money to become available to the schools.
The diocese learned of the gift only a few months ago, said the Rev. Kris Stubna, secretary of education for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. They received the first $924,000 in late July and distributed it to the schools this month.
Even the Rev. George A. Wilt, pastor of St. Bernard since 1968, was surprised. While he knew Gaber well and celebrated his funeral Mass, he said his parishioner never mentioned his intentions to him.
But Gaber did give regularly to the school's Angel Fund to help pay tuition for families who couldn't afford to pay. "He was always interested in how is the school doing, how are you getting along," Wilt said.
Stubna said Gaber used to visit Catholic schools throughout the area.
"He was able to see firsthand the kids and the performance of the schools," Stubna said.
Wilt described Gaber as down-to-earth and low-key.
"He was a happy kind of a guy. I would see him around here at a lot of things at St. Bernard's, but the most important place I'd see him was at Mass."
In a statement released by the diocese, Gaber's attorney, George H. Hoffman, said: "We wrote the will together, and he was like a teen-ager, so full of glee that he could provide this benefit to the diocese and to Catholic education. ... He felt that the backbone and future of the church is its young people, and Catholic education gives them a solid foundation for a strong faith."
On the night it begins, St. Bernard traditionally holds a Mass to open the school year. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, that Mass will be offered for the repose of Gaber's soul, Wilt said.
Wilt said Gaber lived on Vernon Drive in Mt. Lebanon with his parents until they died, and then on his own.
"Mr. Gaber loved the church and Catholic education. He didn't seek accolades for himself. He just wanted to provide something for children and to assist them in life," Wilt said.
Stubna said some of the schools were going to use the money for a computer lab, to buy extra materials and books, or to help families in need. St. Bernard will use the money for general expenses in its operating budget.
The diocese has received some large gifts -- about $3 million to $4 million -- for the Bishop's Education Fund, which provides tuition assistance. But Stubna couldn't recall any recent gifts of the size of Gaber's earmarked specifically to the Catholic schools.
"It means a great deal. Obviously, our schools are operating on a very, very tight budget," Stubna said.
And, he added, "In terms of morale, it means an awful lot that someone in the community would think so highly of our schools to give a gift like this."
Eleanor Chute can be reached at echute@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1955.
"Mr. Gaber loved the church and Catholic education."
Now let's get a school voucher program going. That's if Bush stops sleeping with Kennedy. I can't believe Bush stopped pushing for school vouchers and actually added $15 Billion to the Education Dept., Reagan wanted that dept. disbanded.
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