She was born a few years after her father, Dr. William C. Levin, graduated from UTMB. He completed an internal medicine residency before he joined the faculty as an instructor in 1944. While he served as the university’s second president, the Levin home was often the center of UTMB gatherings.

 

And just as her father had done, Mrs. Hornstein has devoted much of her life to UTMB and carrying on her father’s legacy through her involvement and generosity.

 

“UTMB was my father’s absolute love,” she said of Dr. Levin, who passed away in January. “This was an important place to him, and we wanted to honor that.”

 

As a sign of their commitment to UTMB, Gerry Hornstein and her husband, Eugene Hornstein, contributed $50,000 to the new Jennie Sealy Hospital. The hospital is a key element of the ongoing Working Wonders Campaign.

 

“The Hornsteins have been among our most ardent supporters—we are fortunate to have them as important members of our UTMB family,” said David L. Callender, the university’s president. “We are grateful for all their generosity, including their latest gift to the Jennie Sealy Hospital and for their tireless commitment to ensure that Dr. Levin’s legacy continues to thrive here.”

 

The Hornsteins’ gift will be used to name a nursing station in the new hospital. The choice was meant as a nod to Mrs. Hornstein’s membership on the School of Nursing’s advisory council. She previously served as its president. “I consider Gerry to be a dear friend of the School of Nursing,” said Dean Pamela Watson, RN, ScD. “She has been a loyal, trusted and productive member of the school’s advisory council for many years; she continues to be active and is treasured by all who work with her.”

 

Mrs. Hornstein has also been involved with numerous community organizations and has served as president of a number of groups, including the Ronald McDonald House, Junior League of Galveston and the Grand 1894 Opera House. Her years-long involvement at UTMB has also been reinforced by her generosity in establishing endowments in her father’s name, including the Levin Endowed Professorship in Cancer Studies and the Levin Family Lecture in Hematology and Oncology. Other endowments were created in honor of Dr. Levin, including the Levin Chair in Environmental Toxicology, established by the Brown Foundation. While a generation has passed since her father was at the helm of the university, Mrs. Hornstein continues to hear kind words from those who admire him.

 

“People tell me all the time what a wonderful leader and caring person he was,” she said. “Everybody knew him, and they felt like he knew them.”

 

When it comes to UTMB and its future, Mrs. Hornstein said her father would be excited by all the changes underway at the university.

 

“I think he’d be very pleased with the new hospital,” she said. “I hope UTMB will continue to attract top-rate faculty and continue to have top-rate medical facilities.”