President Spectar’s remarks at the John R. Musulin University Center dedication 

UPJ is profoundly grateful to our benefactor, John R. Musulin, for his tremendous generosity, reflected not only in the gift to secure the former MetLife building but also in his overall philanthropic support for the long-term success of programmatic offerings in the new University Center that bears his name. John, who grew up in Johnstown, attended Ferndale-Dale High School, then UPJ, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Economics in 1967. He started working at  Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York (to which he was recruited even before he finished his degree in Economics). He served in a variety of leadership roles, including six years in Europe. He later joined Essilor USA, a leader in ophthalmic lens manufacturing, where he served as Director of Supply Chain Projects and retired in 2010. As you all know, John R. Musulin made a very significant gift to UPJ, enabling us to acquire this 200,000-square-foot building and 74 acres of land that had previously belonged to UPJ but were sold to MetLife in 1977.   The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees voted on February 6, 2025, to rename this building the John R. Musulin University Center.  

As we celebrate the acquisition and dedication of this building, I think it is especially fitting to share what I have learned about our friend John R. Musulin and why naming the building after him was even more special. In my remarks, I will reflect on the extraordinary life of our friend, guided in part by a retrospective framework inspired by Thomas Hardy's memorable poem "Afterwards." 

1. John R. Musulin was a family man. People who knew him well marvelled at his deep and abiding love for his family, especially his beloved wife, Marsha, the love of his life. John was also very close to his four sisters, whom he loved and cared for deeply. After their father died young, John assumed the role of caretaker, effectively becoming the head of the family and something akin to a “project manager.” He took his responsibilities very seriously, including helping his mother with various tasks, such as digging a French drain and hot-tarring the house's flat roof. His sisters shared that John was the person who "positively influenced us the most," and credited him for helping in their development, including cultivating "a strong work ethic," furthering their educational pursuits, and teaching them valuable “life lessons.”  

2. John was a man whose life can teach us something about the vital link between social connectedness, family, friendship, and happiness. John believed that maintaining and cherishing the quality of a few enduring lifelong friendships was far more critical than merely having many friends. Throughout his life, he made a point of valuing and nurturing a few close friendships by staying in touch with his high school friends, attending his class reunions, and exchanging life stories, triumphs, and travails. A person of broad interests and wide readership, he was a great conversationalist across a variety of topics, from sports and business to politics and art. His friends describe him as an intelligent, thoughtful, kind, caring person and a wonderful neighbor,  a happy man who loved sharing success stories about his family and friends.   

3. John was a lifelong learner, teacher, and mentor.  He regularly shared knowledge with friends and family, whether from random newspaper clippings and magazines, Britannica's One Good Fact A Day, the Wall Street Journal Business and Mansions sections, health news, scientific developments, insightful cartoons, gardening tips, or perhaps just a funny quip or quote. One friend even speculated that "enjoying newspapers was his favorite indoor sport."  Whether he was dealing with family or friends, John was always a great mentor who inspired others to succeed professionally. One Kodak employee from Western Pennsylvania credited John's mentorship for his success, noting: “John was my senior mentor and later supervisor who, with his strong practical bent, made  sure that I did not get myself into trouble while in my first corporate job..." Both men remained friends for over 50 years. A common theme in all he was involved in, whether about work, tennis, or golf, was a keen, consistent focus on self-improvement. 

4. A very serious man, John was also a spirited man who knew the importance of fun in a balanced life and who liked to have fun. John really enjoyed sports, including basketball and football, and was especially passionate about golf.   A huge Pitt Football & Steelers fan, he rarely missed watching and commenting on his favorite teams' performances. Described by one of his sisters as "the coolest/hippest person," he often danced around the house to his Rock 'n' Roll music, loved singing along to ABBA's "Dancing Queen," and sported some very good dance moves. John, who had once dreamed of becoming a famous drummer, maintained his lifelong passion for drumming, keeping his old drumsticks in his office until the end of his life.  

5. John was a man who loved art and appreciated the beauty of art and life (an aesthete), whether looking at sculptures, designs of grand mansions, and other architectural masterpieces. He and his wife, Marsha, enjoyed visiting major monuments and landmarks, including touring University campuses and other grand public spaces with striking architecture. Friends recounted that he often shared his passion for the magnificent homes featured in the Wall Street Journal's mansions section. In addition, he loved gardens and often shared tips on how to keep them flourishing. A meticulous planner and organizer, he loved detail in everything from travel plans to finances to careful reading of texts. 

6. John was a well-traveled man of the world who loved sharing his passion for travel with his family, including embarking on many cruises to experience and enjoy our world. But no matter where else he lived or travelled to, his heart remained well tethered to his roots in his hometown of Johnstown and UPJ, where his illustrious journey began.   

7. John R. Musulin was a great philanthropist.  John’s deep-seated love for the Pitt-Johnstown campus and community culminated in a tremendous act of generosity that enabled UPJ to acquire the former MetLife Building, comprising about 200,000 sq. ft. and 74 acres of land.  

About his gift and philanthropic commitment to give back to UPJ and to help realize the plans to develop the newly acquired property, John R. Musulin stated: "I am excited by the vision the university holds not only for this property but for the entire Johnstown campus, and I'm happy to lend my support." He added, "When I was a student at Pitt-Johnstown, we were in an old grade school on Cypress Avenue. Seeing how far UPJ has come since then gives me a great feeling of pride, and I cannot wait to see what is next."

In recognition of his significant contributions to UPJ's success, members of our community have come together today to celebrate the dedication of the John R. Musulin University Center at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown.  One of John’s favorite poems by Ron Trammer reminds us that even though he could no longer be physically present, “He lives on." As John was wont to say: "If you always think of me, I will never have gone.” He lives on. Indeed.

• He lives on in this grand edifice as a man of integrity and commitment to duty - whose word was his bond, as solid as a rock!

• He lives on at his alma mater as a principled man with a sense of purpose, who took great pleasure in the blessings of family, friendship, and life.

• He lives on in his love of beauty, art, and music, which will be reflected in the design of this building and in the ethos of the place as we, too, embrace and enjoy our world.

• He lives on in this place of lifelong learning, at home with other curious minds, great teachers who share knowledge and their love of learning; among fellow guides who dedicate their lives to up-close, personal teaching, mentoring, and advising. 

• He lives on when students, faculty, staff, and all who visit this building learn about our extraordinary benefactor and are inspired by, among other things, his focus on lifelong learning and self-improvement, to learn more every day and to do better every day.

• He lives on through the inspirational power of this gift to transform the future by enhancing educational opportunities that lead to impactful careers, and through the example he set as a dedicated family man and community member, a distinguished alum, and an outstanding philanthropist! 

• He lives on in the words of the poem, "in the twinkle of the stars, in the sunrise and sunset, in the raindrop and rainbow…"   

So, today we celebrate and honor John R. Musulin, an extraordinary man of the highest integrity, a remarkable man with a steadfast devotion to his family and friends, an accomplished executive,  a connoisseur of art and beauty, an avid athletics fan, a newspaper aficionado, a drummer, and yes, a dancer!   

Family and friends of John R. Musulin, members of the Pitt Johnstown community, it is my honor to unveil the name of our ‘new’ building, the John R. Musulin University Center – a facility that will house new academic programs and much-needed athletics facilities to position UPJ for success in the new century.