Personal responsibility, integrity, citizenship, family relationships, and a passion for reading and travel were closely held values for George Havenner, BIS ’78.
On February 25, 2022, George Havenner passed away at the age of 88, surrounded by his loving family. His legacy carries on through the values he passed along to his many friends and family members. Expanding his father’s legacy further among the community, Craig Havenner joined his wife, Kim (BS Psychology ’98), and the rest of their family to make an impactful gift to the capital campaign for a new building for the George Mason University School of Business.
George Havenner’s college education began at Davis and Elkins University and was interrupted by the Korean War, where he served in the army and continued in the army reserves after the war’s conclusion. Following his military service, he held various federal government positions on Capitol Hill. It was there where one of his employers encouraged him to enroll at Mason to complete the degree he had left on hold. Mason was a young university at the time with a burgeoning reputation and he enjoyed the convenience it offered, even taking classes in the same building where he attended high school – the old Fairfax High School.
“This gift to the School of Business building campaign is a testimony to my dad,” says Craig. “He always encouraged his children and grandchildren to find what they were passionate about and try their very best.” Lessons in leadership, community, and duty have stayed with Craig Havenner as he has gone above and beyond with his engagement, serving on many advisory boards, including the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and the Building Campaign Steering Committee at the School of Business. A retired president of the Christopher Companies, he remains partner of the residential and commercial building and development company. Even though he never attended a class at Mason, he understands the magnitude of the school’s influence on the region and on his family. “Mason has all the pieces,” he says, “but to carry out the world-class mission, we need the infrastructure updated and [made] adaptable to new technologies.”
Havenner’s gift and his service on the building campaign advisory board underscore his belief in how essential a building is for the School of Business. In an era when tuning in virtually has become a permanent option for many students and employees, the in-person interaction has become even more highly coveted. “The personal touch of speaking to someone face-to-face is so important in having meaningful discussion,” says Havenner. And when it’s not possible to convene in person, it has become necessary to establish a home base to house and adapt the latest technologies to teach students across the commonwealth and around the world. After all, Mason is inclusive in offering everyone a first-rate education.
The Havenner family has donated their resources–time, treasure, and talent–to the school because they see within it many of their own family values. The gift will contribute to the school’s strengthening its capabilities and broadening its scope as an engine of opportunity. George Havenner and his beloved wife Rosalie were among the first homeowners in their tightknit Annandale, Virginia community back in 1963, and since then, Craig has seen how much the region has grown and the role Mason has played and continues to play in it. And, of course, Mason itself continues to grow. “They have done so well in drawing from all the resources that are available in this community, which are among the best you can find anywhere in the world, when you think about the seat of government and all the industries and think tanks,” he says.
Throughout Mason’s brief history, remarkable leaders have shaped the institution into one that is constantly grabbing headlines and staying ahead of the curve. The building campaign represents the future of the school and the university, and a future that would not be possible without the support of people like the Havenners. Business and technology continue to evolve, but the future will be built on the foundational principles that have guided Patriots thus far. A high-quality education was of immense importance to George Havenner, as he always encouraged his family and friends to embrace the lifelong learning experience. At the School of Business, the Havenner gift will help change more lives as part of George’s legacy.