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| Vol. 17, No. 29 | April 30, 1998 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 29 | April 30, 1998 |
Marvin S. Gilman, president of Gilman Development Co., a well-known Wilmington home builder, a faculty member of the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy for 18 years and a University trustee, died April 7 in Christiana Hospital at the age of 76.
Also an economist and lawyer, Mr. Gilman was a home builder for more than 40 years. In the early 1960s, he was the sponsor of Sutton Place, in Baltimore. The high-rise residential facility was recognized as one of the first major real estate projects that voluntarily welcomed tenants of all races.
In 1995, Mr. Gilman and his wife, Muriel, former executive vice president of the United Way and a development consultant at UD, were the first husband and wife to be honored as recipients of the Josiah Marvel Cup Award. This recognition is given by the State Chamber of Commerce to Delawareans who have performed exemplary service for the benefit of the community.
Mr. Gilman was associated with many national, regional and state professional organizations, including the National Housing Conference, National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing and the National Home Builders Association.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter named Mr. Gilman to a fourth successive term on the 15-member board of directors of Fannie Mae, the national mortgage association.
Mr. Gilman also was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Citizen Award of the state of Delaware, the National Housing Conference Man of the Year, Citizen Planner Award recipient and an inductee into the National Housing Hall of Fame.
Daniel Rich, dean of the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy, spoke at a memorial service, held April 10 in Arsht Hall, on the University's Wilmington campus.
"For 18 years," Rich said, "Marvin was my colleague. Of all the ways he enriched the University, his role as a teacher was, I believe, the one he found most rewarding and the one where he made his most profound impacts. And what a teacher he was!"
Rich described Mr. Gilman's enthusiasm, passion and respect for a subject, noting that there was a "deep sense of responsibility for the learning of his students, and with an unrestrained enthusiasm for sharing what he knew.
"Like all great teachers," Rich said, "Marvin taught me more than subject matter. He taught me how to prepare for the challenges of life, of work and of social responsibility; he taught about making a difference on issues that matter for the larger community. This man had deeply held convictions, taught his students that good intentions were not enough! He was a demanding teacher and he held his students-as he held himself-to very high standards...
"He built lifelong bonds with his students, he also built lasting bonds with his colleagues at the University. This very wise and dedicated man, with irrepressible wit, a thoroughly frank and disarming style and a truly caring and generous sprit gave so much of himself to his college community-and he gave so much to me."
"Like his many students, I will miss him dearly, and I will not forget the lessons he taught me," Rich said.
Mr. Gilman is survived by his wife and a son and daughter.
Contributions may be sent in his memory to the Marvin S. Gilman National Housing Endowment Scholarship, in care of the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy.
