Moving Metal

A CONTRIBUTION TO CALTECH

B ill and Georgina Gimbel bought a house at Mauna Kea Fairways on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1977. Visits to the house were short and seldom while Gimbel was actively managing Reliance, but by the mid-1990s they spent more time there. In 1995, the house across the street— which had a better view—became available and the Gimbels decided to buy it. The question was what to do with the old one. Characteristically, he made this an opportunity for philan- thropy, asking long-time friend and former Reliance attorney Bob Henigson, “Do you think Caltech would be interested in it?” Although he never attended the California Institute of Technology, Bill Gimbel had admired the institution since his time as an aeronautical engineer, and had served as a Director of Caltech Associates, its fundraising arm. “He knew how much aeronautical engineering knowledge—the text books and much of the technology—came from Caltech,” said Georgina Gimbel. Caltech was Henigson’s alma mater and he was also a Director of Caltech Associates. The day after his conversation with Gimbel, Henigson visited Caltech President Thomas Everhart. “What can I do for you, Bob?” Everhart greeted his visitor. “This is the occasion in which I can fairly say, ‘What can I do for you?’” Henigson replied, eager to share the good news. The timing could not have been better—Caltech had been looking for funding to build a sea-level base facility to support its Submillimeter Observatory located on Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s highest peak. Completed in 1989, the observatory housed the largest telescope on the island, which was used to study the early stages of star formation. Up until 1995, Caltech had utilized space on the Hawaii Community College campus to support its Mauna Kea astronomers. However, the community college had recently

ended Caltech’s lease. Caltech had the funds to buy new space, but lacked the capital required to build a new support lab. The university therefore welcomed Gimbel’s donation. The sale of the Gimbel house ultimately yielded $1.25 million, which allowed Caltech to build a first-class facility. The Georgina and William Gimbel Building was dedicated on June 25, 1995, in a traditional Hawaiian ground-blessing and ground-breaking ceremony, with the Gimbels participating. Despite the public ceremony in Hawaii, few back in the mainland knew of Gimbel’s contribution to scientific research. “He never touted his penchant for doing good,” Bob Henigson later remarked. “I think he always hid that from everybody.”

The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, located near the Mauna Kea summit in Hawaii.

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