Family and friends of the late Carl Gerstacker gather to dedicate a College of Engineering (CoE) building in the alumnus’ name. The gift from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation will support interdisciplinary research that is critical to discovery in science and engineering today, says CoE Dean Stephen Director. The building will foster additional interaction among the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Materials Science and Engineering Department and the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, which will share lab space in the building. In addition the facility will house the Biomedical Engineering Department administrative functions.
Gerstacker earned a degree in chemical engineering at U-M in 1938. He worked his way up the ranks of Dow Chemical Co., first starting as a bottle washer right after graduating high school and before attending the University. After graduating from U-M, he became an auditor of a Dow subsidiary. He later was promoted to the positions of treasurer, vice president, chairman of the finance committee and, ultimately, chairman of the board for 16 years, Director says.
Those representing the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation at the April 11 dedication were: Alan Ott; Gail Lanphear; Gerstacker’s daughter, Lisa; his widow, Esther; her son, the Honorable Bill Schuette; and E.N. Brandt.
