Abele Shares Contributions of Successful People at Rowan Day
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In his Rowan Day keynote address, Wilbert“ Will” Abele told the students,“ We are here today because of Hank Rowan. Williamson College of the Trades would not be the school it is today if not for Hank Rowan. But it is not just because of Rowan, it is because of the many others that came before him.”
Speaking in the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel in Rowan Hall on Nov. 12, Abele, who is the founder of the Abele Family Foundation, Inc., and the retired owner and president of Henry Troemmer, LLC, told the students of three great men who used their fortunes to help young people become successful, to thrive, and to be happy- Stephen Girard, Isaiah Williamson, and Henry“ Hank” Rowan.
He said each of these men came from humble beginnings, worked hard, took risks, were entrepreneurs, and as they became wealthy, lived their lives with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness.
“ But, the most important thing they had in common was that they were Americans, for only in America could they have accomplished what they accomplished. For in America, it does not matter who your parents or grandparents were, it does not matter what religion you practice or where you were born. What matters is hard work and integrity.”
He said Girard built a great shipping, banking, and business empire and played an important role in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.“ He was considered the father of philanthropy and this was his greatest contribution. He had a humanitarian commitment and cared for the poor and the sick and helped many charitable organizations. He was the wealthiest man in America when he died and he used his estate to create Girard College to educate orphaned boys.”
Wilbert“ Will” Abele, founder of the Abele Family Foundation and Rowan Day keynote speaker.
Isaiah Williamson grew up on a farm and, at the age of 23, after a three-year apprenticeship, bought a store in Philadelphia. The store was a success and allowed him to pursue several other businesses, all of which were successful. In 1838, at the age of 35, he retired with a small fortune as one of the richest men in Pennsylvania.
“ He used his money for the benefit of others. He donated funds to orphanages, libraries, colleges, benevolent societies, and other organizations, always anonymously. After seeing young boys on the streets with no education or knowledge of how to create a better life for themselves, he created a trade school, using Girard College as a model.”
Hank Rowan’ s $ 100 million gift to Glassboro State College, with an enrollment of 7,500, was a transformative gift that created an educational powerhouse that now includes three campuses, 14 colleges and schools, among them an engineering school and two medical schools, with an enrollment of nearly 20,000.
“ Rowan saw philanthropy as an investment and that investments come with risks. He could have made these gifts to wealthier and more prestigious schools where the investments were less risky, but what Rowan saw was an opportunity, and that opportunity is each one of you.
“ I have had, as a graduate of Girard College, and you have, the privilege of being the beneficiaries of the generosity and wisdom of many who came before. I hope you will remember those people that made your education possible and that you remember that here at Williamson you are finding the precious gift of freedom- intellectual freedom, freedom to succeed, freedom to fail, freedom to develop your own powers.
“ I charge you to do your work as well as you can, patiently, courageously, unselfishly. I charge you to be good citizens of this great country and when you are successful to remember those who need your help so that they may become successful as well.”
Abele closed his remarks by making a challenge to each of the three classes, saying if each class raises $ 10,000 toward their senior class gift, he will match it dollar for dollar and that if they raise more than that, he will donate $ 2 for every dollar raised.“ This is a challenge Hank Rowan would have enjoyed making.”
At the conclusion of his talk, President Michael Rounds presented him with a commemorative wooden box with a water color print of Rowan Hall on the lid.
In his introduction of Abele, trustee Michael Piotrowicz, president of Legacy
Pictured in the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel at the close of the Rowan Day celebration are( from left to right): William Bonenberger 7W9, board chairman; Michael Piotrowicz, trustee; Wilbert“ Will” Abele, the keynote speaker, and his wife Joan; and President Michael Rounds.
Advisors, LLC, said“ I can think of no better person to share his values with you than Will Abele.”
He explained his difficult youth, graduation from Girard College, and then going to Ursinus College on a scholarship where he became motivated to succeed. After graduating in 1961, he married Joan in 1964, and a few years later went to work for Henry Troemner, LLC, in Philadelphia, a company that specializes in calibration of weights. He worked hard, climbed the ladder, and in 1995, bought the company. He then spent the next 20 years growing the company with the values of hard work and dedication. In 2016, he sold the company.
Piotrowicz said,“ He had it tough and worked hard for everything he achieved and he went on to overachieve. He was committed and dedicated to succeed in life and as a business person. He has always wanted to give back and he has kept his life in perspective. Because of this, he founded the Abele Family Foundation, which funds scholarships and programs at several schools to help students of low income attend and flourish in college and be well-positioned for life, and here at Williamson as well. He and Joan established the legacy scholarship, The Wilbert D. and Joan J. Abele Family Scholar, and have done much more.”
In his welcoming remarks, Rounds said“ Eight years ago, we met in the lobby downstairs and officially named this building Rowan Hall in honor of Henry Rowan. We decided to celebrate Rowan Day every year, not only to honor Henry Rowan and his family, but to celebrate philanthropy, the charitable giving that makes Williamson possible.
“ Today, we honor our great benefactor Henry Rowan, his family, and the Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation. The generosity of the Rowan family has helped grow and improve every aspect of Williamson. Williamson was created and has been sustained for over 135 years by philanthropy.
“ Without the gifts and investment from Henry Rowan, Lee Rowan, and The Rowan Family Foundation beginning 24 years ago, Williamson may not have been able to keep its doors open- and if it did, it would look very different than it does today.
“ We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Rowan family and to all the generous donors who make it possible to continue to educate and train Williamson men today and in the future. That is why we gather every year to celebrate Rowan Day- to show our appreciation to all the donors throughout our history that have made Williamson the amazing and unique place it is today.”
He went on to introduce Michael Piotrowicz, the longest-serving trustee, to give the trustee remarks.“ Mike exemplifies Williamson’ s core values in everything he does. Although he is not a graduate, Williamson has been an important part of his life for over 30 years and he has done much for Williamson by contributing his time, talent, and treasure.”
Piotrowicz is the president of Legacy Advisors, LLC, in Plymouth Meeting, with the firm’ s core values being: client first, work hard, excellence, positive attitude, respect, and always do the right thing.
“ He is asked to speak every Rowan Day because he is the person who is responsible for introducing Hank Rowan to Williamson. Hank and Lee Rowan and The Rowan Family Foundation are second only to our founder as benefactors to Williamson. That is why we named this building Rowan Hall, established the Lee Rowan School of Power Plant Technology, and celebrate Rowan Day each year.”
Chaplain Mark Specht 7W7 gave the invocation and benediction and The Artisans, under the direction of Sherre Gaertner, sang the Alma Mater.