Mary Griffin

Alumni NURS '80

My great grandfather donated to the construction of the German Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. When I graduated from Pitt, my parents surprised me with the framed certificate from his donation. I have treasured this family connection to Pitt for all these years. Grandpa Gareis died long before I was born so I did not know him. His donation of $5 would have been about $112 in the 1930s. I don’t believe they were wealthy people, but it must have been important to my great grandfather to honor his heritage. I think he would have been thrilled that one of his descendants went to Pitt, took classes in the Cathedral and visited the room that he, and many others, helped to build.