UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School laments the passing of donor and friend of the school Marilyn Gevirtz on September 27. In 2000, she and her husband Ambassador Don Gevirtz made a transformative gift to the Graduate School of Education, and in recognition of that gift, UCSB renamed the school in their honor. Their significant investment has supported student fellowships, fostered the creative capacity of the faculty, and enhanced the school’s stature as a nationally renowned leader in education.
When in Fiji, where her late husband was ambassador, Marilyn started several children’s educational projects. But it wasn’t until her return to the United States that her passion for childhood education found its fullest expression at UCSB. She was particularly involved with the Children’s Homework Project and Girls Inc., among many other programs.
Marilyn supported a host of other Santa Barbara charities with her time and passion. Giving back and trying to make the world a better place was her central motivation. “Her hope was that Gevirtz Graduate School of Education would produce the very best teachers, those who could provide strong leadership in public education and ignite the joy of learning in their young students,” UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang said. “GGSE embodies Marilyn’s spirit of greatness, and her legacy will live on through the continued success of our school and our students.”
The Marilyn Gevirtz Memorial Fund was created to honor the memory of Marilyn Gevirtz, a driving force and visionary investor in our Educational community. All gifts to this fund will be used to support students of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.