Room 313 at the old Atlantic City High School was the classroom where for years, Myra Greenberg passed on her knowledge of science to students.
Now, that same room number of the Stockton University Academic Center — which stands in the place of the old high school — will bear the name of Mrs. Greenberg and her husband, Jerome.
Donations by the Greenbergs’ son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Ellen Greenberg, gave them the opportunity to honor the elder Greenbergs with a lasting place in the new building.
“We had no idea until Paul sent us the information for the plaque that the room was going to be dedicated to us, which was a very kind thing to do.” said Myra Greenberg, who in 1976 was among the first to earn a teaching certificate from the former Stockton State College.
“Luckily Stockton was there for her to get her teaching certificate,” Paul Greenberg said of his mom. “From there she taught various sciences at ACHS for many, many years in Classroom 313.”
She started out teaching Introduction to Physical Science before there was an opening in her first love, Chemistry.
The Greenbergs are longtime residents of Atlantic City and Margate, with deep ties.
“My mom comes from a long line of teachers, so we’ve been connected to education for some time,” Paul Greenberg said. “We’re also very loyal to the community.”
That is why he and Ellen gifted the Stockton Foundation $100,000, with an additional $50,000 for the Atlantic City Opportunity Fund, which provides annual funds for initiatives to expand Stockton students’ engagement with and in Atlantic City.
Another $50,000 went to support the university’s Stockton Fund.
Amy Greenberg, Paul and Ellen’s daughter, is a current Stockton student who plans to carry on the family legacy of teaching when she earns her degree in education in 2020.
“To us, making an impactful investment in education and in the community is the most important legacy.” Paul Greenberg said. “Whether anyone remembers us is going to be much less important than the impact that Stockton can have in Atlantic City, and that’s why we’re donating.”
The donation and dedication were one of two made Thursday.
The front veranda of Stockton’s new Academic Center will
also honor the parents of a donator.
Gertrude Goldstein Kramer wasn’t able to attend college in the 1930s, so the
daughter of a small grocery store owner in Atlantic City gave up her college
plans.
But thanks to an endowed scholarship fund set up by her son, Charles Kramer,
and his wife, Lynn, her family will always have a place at the campus.
The Kramer Veranda honors the memory of Gertrude and Arnold Kramer.
“If there had been a Stockton, or scholarship money, when my mother graduated
high school she could have gone to college,” Charles Kramer said. “She was so
smart. This endowment is really about providing scholarship money for students,
but I hope they also take the time to read the plaque.”
A plaque on the veranda provides a short history
of Arnold’s and Gertrude’s lives.
Arnold’s father, Ben, started Kramer Beverage in Atlantic City in 1924. Arnold,
a 1933 Atlantic City High School graduate, joined the business after graduating
from the Peirce School of Business in Philadelphia. Charles and Lynn expanded
the family business which is now based in Hammonton and extends into eight
counties.
“But it all started In Atlantic City,” Charles Kramer said. “My parents were
both devoted to Atlantic City, and were involved in a lot of organizations. It
was a wonderful place to grow up. I want to perpetuate their memory and when I
told my mom I wanted to do this in Atlantic City she really liked the idea.”
He and his wife have given a long-term commitment of $250,000 for the fund.
“It really blows me away how many students work and still have high grade point
averages,” Charles Kramer said. “Lynn and I hope we can inspire others to
create scholarships as well.”
Stockton Board of Trustees chairman Leo Schoffer said the Kramers represent the
type of family business that is important to a community.
“Thank you for your ongoing support of Stockton,” Schoffer said.
Stockton President Harvey Kesselman said both the Kramer business and Stockton
have their roots in Atlantic City and the Kramer family support of Stockton is
a model of community spirit.
“Stockton will never forget your kind and generous spirit,” Kesselman said.
