Dan Otchere gives back to honour late wife
Long-time Economics professor’s gift will support Libraries and create staff award
Concordia Economics Professor Dan Otchere found a distinctive way to commemorate his late wife and her cherished place of work—as well as the university where he’s spent more than 38 years. At a gift announcement ceremony March 7 in the Friends of the Library Room of the R. Howard Webster Library, Professor Otchere explained why he donated to the Library Endowment Fund and also created the Freda Otchere Staff Recognition Award.
Concordia Economics Professor Dan Otchere (left) and President and Vice-Chancellor Fred Lowy in the Friends of the Library Room of the R. Howard Webster Library on March 7. Otchere announced his gift to the Library Endowment Fund and to create the Freda Otchere Staff Recognition Award.
“Libraries are the heartbeat of an educational institution and our libraries here are no different,” Otchere said. He added that the annual award will be given to a Libraries staff person who shares the values exemplified by Freda, who was a professional librarian at Concordia from 1978 until her death in 2004. “She was an exceptional woman, vital, a source of strength and a consummate professional.”
Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Fred Lowy spoke at the event. Lowy thanked Otchere for his gift and said that the Libraries are central to Concordia in many ways. “And it’s wonderful that Dr. Otchere’s gift recognizes the importance and quality of the library staff,’ Lowy said. University Librarian Gerald Beasley echoed the sentiment. “I know how many library staff will be meriting this award,” Beasley said. “I feel very inspired by the donation.”
Dominique McCaughey, Acting Vice-President of Advancement and Alumni Relations, introduced Otchere as a “champion of the library.” And Karen Hilker, a former colleague of Freda Otchere, recalled her as someone with “a great sense of humour, an excellent knowledge of cataloguing. She loved books and loved being at Concordia,” Hilker said.
Among the 30 guests at the ceremony were Dan and Freda Otchere’s children, Sophia and Kwabena, who is also on the Concordia Libraries staff.
Related links:
giving.concordia.ca
library.concordia.ca
Faculty prolife: Dan Otchere