College Relations

September 29, 2005

CONTACT --- Margo W. R. Steiner at (978) 542-7505 or margo.steiner@salemstate.edu

Analog Founder Bernard Gordon & His Wife Sophia Give Largest Gift in SSC's History

SALEM, MASS. - Just prior to Robert Redford's sold-out presentation at tonight's Salem State College Series, President Nancy Harrington stepped to the podium and announced the College's receipt of a $2 million gift - the largest in the state college's 151-year history. To the best of the College's knowledge, it is also the largest private outright gift ever to a Massachusetts state college.

The gift was presented to the College by Bernard and Sophia Gordon of Manchester by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. In honor of their generosity, the College's new Creative and Performing Arts Center, scheduled to break ground by the end of 2008, will bear their name.

When the state-of-the-art Sophia and Bernard Gordon Creative and Performing Arts Center opens, it will feature a 400-seat theater, a 200-seat studio theater, a gallery for the visual arts, an open lobby to accommodate public receptions and other arts-related functions and class and laboratory space for the College's increasingly renowned theater department.

Bernard Gordon, who received an honorary degree from Salem State College in 1985 for his professional achievements and for his philanthropic support of initiatives in the arts, health care and education, is the founder and former chairman and CEO of Massachusetts-based Analogic Corporation.

A member of the team that developed the world's first commercially available digital computer, Gordon holds over 200 patents, creating devices such as the fetal monitor and a mobile CT scanner. He is perhaps best known, however, as the father of high-speed analog-to-digital conversion.

Upon receiving his honorary degree from Salem State, Gordon -- and his wife Sophia --became more involved in the College, regularly attending its renowned Salem State College Series. With involvement came insight into the impact a college can have on both its students and faculty and the wider community that it serves. As a businessman, Gordon was easily able to translate impact into value.

"With very little in the way of facilities," he noted recently, "Salem State College students, faculty and staff - with a lot of heart, a deep and abiding commitment and a 'can-do' attitude - have been providing arts programs of substance and extraordinary quality for many, years. The members of the regional community have been the beneficiaries.

"By making this gift to the College, my wife and I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary work this state college is doing to help the college with the additional facility it needs - and deserves. It is our hope that the Creative and Performing Arts center at Salem State College will give students a greater opportunity to continue the fine work they are doing- and to compete on a more level playing field with some of the more well-endowed colleges and universities throughout the region. It is also our hope that this new state-of-the-art complex will serve as a cultural beacon for north-of-Boston residents who love the arts."

The Gordon's gift adds to the nearly $2.65 million already raised for the Center, and brings the College within $350,000 of completing the private fundraising portion of its capital campaign. Additional funding from the Commonwealth will be sought by the College to complete the project. In all, over three hundred private donations have been made to the campaign, reflecting the generosity of alumni, employees and friends of Salem State College.

According to Cynthia McGurren, Salem State's vice president of institutional advancement, "The impact of the Gordon gift on the Salem State College community will be far reaching. It may, in fact, change the face of private giving to our College forever.

"Through their gift," she continued, "Bernard and Sophia Gordon have shown incredible faith in us. We look forward to honoring that faith when the new Center for the Creative and Performing Arts Center becomes reality."

The Salem State College Series, now entering its 24th year, is a non-profit community enrichment program. Thanks to the generosity of its longtime presenting sponsor, Bank of America, and numerous other corporate and individual sponsors, it is able to bring diverse programs and world-renowned speakers to the north-of-Boston region on an annual basis. Features sponsors for this event are Cranney Companies and Giant Glass.