Geoffrion Family Scholarship Established at

We are pleased to announce that Arthur and Gilbert Geoffrion have set up the Geoffrion Family Scholarship at the Vincent Smith School to assist families who are in financial need. The philanthropic siblings attended VSS as their primary school and have many fond memories of those formative years. Each of them once served as master of ceremonies at the school’s field day, and now here they are again taking the lead in a big way. They want to ensure that finances don’t prohibit a few future VSS students from obtaining a quality education.

“We both greatly enjoyed our early school years at Vincent Smith,” said Art, who attended VSS from 1943-1948. “The atmosphere was warm and nurturing. It was the perfect place to begin our social and academic education. The mission of Vincent Smith is quite different from what it was in our era there as primary school students. But far from lamenting the passing of the old mission, we embrace the new one [special education] as a vital service to the surrounding communities.”

After leaving Vincent Smith School, Art went to Buckley Country Day School, Friends Academy, Cornell University for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and then on to Stanford University for his Ph.D. in Operations Research.

Art, who retired in 2005, had an illustrious career as a UCLA business school faculty member. His days are now well spent in the company of his five grandchildren or actively involved in a myriad of other endeavors. Art finds time to enjoy activities such as genealogy, reading, fitness, working with service organizations and renewing contacts with old classmates.

“The name we have chosen for this scholarship is meant to honor our parents, who had the wisdom to choose Vincent Smith as our first school,” said Gil, who attended VSS from 1950-1956. “It is a privilege to be able to make it possible for other families to choose a school of Vincent Smith’s quality.”

Gil is semi-retired and has held many interesting vocations such as a jeweler, a communications expert, a member of the US Air Force and a special consultant on projects for the US Dept. of Defense. The Knoxville, Tennessee resident happily recalls his interactions with two of the school’s founders, Nellora Reader and Adelaide Smith.

“Miss Reeder was a dear woman who made me believe in myself,” said Gil. “Miss Reeder and Miss Smith were a great team. They will forever remain dear to my heart for the time, help and efforts they provided me and the educational start they gave me.”

VSS alumni are encouraged to make a difference in the life of a child by contributing to the VSS Scholarship Fund. “We are so appreciative of all that the Geoffrion family has done in recognition of the foundation that was established for them at Vincent Smith School,” said Ellen Forrest, Board Chairperson. “The way they are positively affecting the lives of other children is what we’d hope for from all of our alumni.”

Caption: Arthur and Gilbert Geoffrion have established the Geoffrion Family Scholarship at the Vincent Smith School in Port Washington.