It is with extreme personal sadness that I share that Sacramento State President Emeritus Donald R. Gerth passed away.

Dr. Gerth was Sac State’s longest-serving President, holding the position from 1984 to 2003. His impressive 45 years of service to the California State University began in 1958, when he joined San Francisco State as an associate dean. After serving in both administrative and faculty positions across several CSU universities, he became President of CSU Dominguez Hills in 1974, where he served until coming to Sacramento to lead our campus.

With the loving support of his wife, Beverly (Bev), who served actively alongside her husband, the Gerths transformed Sacramento State. Under Dr. Gerth’s leadership, enrollment grew from 22,000 to 28,000 students, doubling its number of Asian and Hispanic students. He led the establishment of the School of Arts and the Office of Research, Graduate, and Extended Studies. He oversaw nearly $100 million in modernization of campus buildings and facilities, and added 1.2 million square feet of building to campus, including two parking structures. Dr. Gerth also established The Center for California Studies, which positioned Sac State prominently in state government and ensured that we are the Capital’s University.

After four-and-a-half decades of service, Dr. Gerth continued to be a champion of Sac State and the CSU system during his retirement. In 2010, he published The People’s University: A History of the California State University. In 2018, the University renamed the special collections as the Donald and Beverly Gerth Special Collections and University Archives in recognition of their service and support of the Sac State and the CSU. That support included a gift of $300,000 for the collections, which helped to modernize the archives, making them more accessible and useful.

President Emeritus Gerth loved Sacramento State and the CSU. His impact on our campus and the system as a whole is remarkable. It was my honor to call him a friend, and I will miss his wise council. Now is the time for the entire Hornet Family to rally behind and support his beloved wife, Bev.

I have spoken to Bev Gerth, who has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the President Emeritus Donald R. Gerth Memorial Scholarship Fund. Bev has asked that we wait until early next year to hold a celebration of life for Don. Details will be forthcoming.

Robert S. Nelsen

President

California State University, Sacramento