Updated 2/5/2016 Links to obituary as well as information about giving added to the bottom of this article.
F. Gary Haberle, assistant dean of business and finance at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, passed away on January 30, 2016 after becoming acutely ill about a week ago. Family and members of his PittPharmacy family were with him in his final hours.
Gary stood as one of the School’s most respected and well-loved administrators. He had been a pillar of the School of Pharmacy and Pitt for five decades. His fierce loyalty, ability to get hard things done, exceptional organizational skills, caring nature, and sense of community contributed greatly to the success of the School today. His generosity knew no bounds, often making loans of his own money to help students or staff.
In 1966, after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in business administration, Haberle, on a whim, submitted a job
application to his alma mater. Two weeks later, he began his half century-long career with Pitt. It is an irony that his first day as an employee at Pitt was February 1, 1966.
Haberle’s talents were recognized early on, and he quickly moved from the University’s Research Accounting Office to the School of Pharmacy at the urging of Dr. Joseph Buckley, professor of pharmacology, whose research accounts Haberle managed. In 1968, Haberle found himself serving as assistant to the dean, a job that often required him to take on additional responsibilities to meet the School’s needs. Haberle soon assumed responsibility for helping students with their financial aid—a task he relished. He devoted many hours to finding grants, fellowships, and loans for students who struggled to pay their tuition bills. In recognition of his overall talent, he was appointed in the 1980s to the position of assistant dean of business and finance for the School of Pharmacy.
Haberle was a generous donor to the School, establishing the Haberle Staff Appreciation Award, which provides funds to support the children of staff who enroll at the School of Pharmacy. The School of Pharmacy also honored his commitment to scholarships by establishing the Gary Haberle Endowed Fund, which provides scholarship support for deserving students.
Haberle was a devoted Pitt athletics fan, often traveling to cheer for Pitt teams as they advanced in league and NCAA tournaments.
Haberle cared deeply for the University of Pittsburgh and the School of Pharmacy. He was a special colleague to those with whom he worked and a special benefactor to the School’s students. In one way or another, Haberle touched the lives of virtually everyone associated with the School of Pharmacy since he began his career 50 years ago.
In his own words, from a previous PittPharmacy Magazine article, Haberle said, “I’ve really enjoyed working at the School. I’ve enjoyed the people. The students are special. I guess that’s one of the reasons I stayed: I had a good time.”
Additional Information
Friends will be welcomed on Wednesday, February 3rd from 2:00-8:00pm at Lanigan Funeral Home, 1111 Monroeville Avenue, Turtle Creek, PA 15145. A Catholic Funeral Mass will take place at Heinz Chapel at 10:00am on Thursday, February 4, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the F. Gary Haberle Scholarship Fund at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
How to Give to the F Gary Haberle Scholarship Fund
The University has a secure link which will allow you to give directly for the F Gary Haberle Scholarship Fund. On the second page of the secure site, you can select the fund.
https://secure.giveto.pitt.edu/g16igh
University Times Obituary for Gary Haberle
The University Times posted a beautiful obituary and we are linking to it here.
