Dorn House to be Dedicated September 10

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will dedicate its newest residence hall, Sarah B. Dorn House, at 4 p.m. Sept. 10.

After an introduction by Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, the program for the day will feature remarks by Craig A. Hartburg, chairman of the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board; Joseph W. Fink, associate vice chancellor for facilities management, University of Pittsburgh; Howard L. Fesenmyer, a close friend of Dorn’s and executive secretary of the Blaisdell Foundation; and Jacob Loree, president of the Student Government Association and a chemistry major from Warren.

Following a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the residence hall will be given and light refreshments will be served.

The 103-bed Dorn House is the third residence hall to open on campus in five years.

Located across the loop road from Fisher Hall, the $5.45-million residence hall is being named in honor of Sarah B. Dorn, co-owner of Zippo Manufacturing Co. and a benefactor of the university.

“This residence hall is going to have a major impact on our ability to house students,” Alexander said, noting that for the first time in several years, no students will be living at the Best Western hotel on Davis Street in Bradford.

Dorn House will bring the on-campus resident capacity to nearly 1,000 students.

It is a three-story building with two-, four- and five-person suites. Each bedroom will have a private bathroom, cable hookup, telephone jack and computer port. Students will share a living room, kitchen and storage area.

Although it was not approved until late last year, the new residence hall went up in record time thanks in part to using the design of a residence hall built in 2005, Reed-Coit House.

Alexander spoke about naming the residence hall for Dorn. “Sarah Dorn is a longstanding and very generous supporter of our campus,” he said, “and the naming of this new residence hall in her honor is a reflection of our profound and sincere gratitude to her.”

Dorn is the daughter of Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell, who was legendary in Bradford for his generosity. Dorn has followed in his footsteps in both industry and charity.

She has been an honorary member of the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board since 1999. With her son, George Duke, co-owner of Zippo and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., Dorn has provided generous gifts to Pitt-Bradford, including $1.2 million from Zippo and $1.3 million from the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation, as well as individual gifts.

Dorn’s gifts have supported academic programs, scholarships, international travel funds for students and faculty, technology enhancements, athletic programs, a library memorial fund and the arts.

In 1993, she and her sister, Harriett Wick, were honored with the Presidential Medal of Distinction, the highest honor given by Pitt-Bradford. Prior to that, Dorn and Wick founded the Miriam Barcroft Blaisdell Annual Scholarships, which has helped more than 2,000 students who have attended Pitt-Bradford.

In 2005, the Blaisdell Family, including Dorn, Wick and Duke, was inducted into the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning Society.