NEWS

Gift establishes Christopher Quackenbush Fund to honor 9-11 victim

BY KATHERINE KOPP

Office of University Development

CHAPEL HILL -- A gift to honor the memory of alumnus Christopher Quackenbush has been given to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by James J. Dunne III, senior managing principal of Sandler, O’Neill & Partners, a New York City investment banking firm.

The gift establishes the Christopher Quackenbush Fund under the auspices of the Robertson Scholars program. Established by New York investment manager Julian Robertson and his wife, Josie, in 2000, the Robertson Scholars program is a collaborative scholarship of UNC and Duke University. Half the students matriculate at UNC and half at Duke, but all take courses at both universities, as well as live for one semester on the other campus.

Income from the Quackenbush fund will be used to permit any undergraduate student to apply for funds to pay for tickets to cultural events, including plays, lectures and concerts. UNC students will be able to purchase tickets to events at Duke, while Duke students will be able to come to the UNC campus to attend events and programs. The program will expand on the linkages between the campuses established by the Robertson Scholars program. Robertson Scholars already receive tickets and passes to some events on both campuses, and the Quackenbush Fund will make those opportunities available to a larger number of students.

"Chris loved UNC," said Dunne. "It would make him happy to know he was enhancing the college experience for young people."

Dunne and Quackenbush were best friends for 31 years, as well as business partners. Quackenbush, a 1979 graduate, died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He and the five other Carolina alumni who died in the terrorist attacks were remembered in a UNC ceremony on Sept. 11, 2002, the first anniversary of their deaths.

Quackenbush served on the UNC Board of Visitors and was a major donor to the university. He endowed the Albert Ray Newsome Distinguished Professorship for the Study of the South in honor of his grandfather, who was a professor of history at the University. He also endowed a scholarship for women’s lacrosse and made gifts to the renovations of Memorial Hall, Kenan Stadium, Finley Golf Course, Navy field and the softball field.

Dunne wanted to honor his friend in a way that he thought was appropriate to his memory. "Chris loved going to events," Dunne said. "He had tickets for everything. We even called him the ‘Ticket Man.’"

The program will be administered by Dr. Eric Mlyn, director of the Robertson Scholars.

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Robertson Scholar Program contact: Eric Mlyn (919)843-7506

Development Office contact: Speed Hallman (919)962-0027