Jan. 21, 2005--Genevieve "Vieve" W. Gore, 91, of Newark, died Jan. 20 after a brief illness.

A long-time friend and benefactor of the University of Delaware, Mrs. Gore of Newark and her late husband, Wilbert, founded W. L. Gore & Associates.

In 1983, Mr. and Mrs. Gore were awarded the University of Delaware Medal of Distinction, at a ceremony where then-Vice President George H. W. Bush also was honored. The Medal of Distinction is presented to individuals in the state and region who have made humanitarian, cultural, intellectual or scientific contributions to society, have achieved noteworthy success in their professions or have given significant service to the University, the state and the region.

In 1995, Mrs. Gore and her son, Robert Gore, an alumnus of the Class of 1959, and his wife, Sarah, an alumna of the Class of 1976, made a $17.5 million gift to the University for a new classroom building. Gore Hall, which stands on The Green, was dedicated in 1998.

Born in Salt Lake City, Mrs. Gore spent her childhood on a cattle ranch in Wyoming. She studied elementary education for two years at the University of Utah and graduated from Henniger Business College in 1935.

She married Wilbert L. "Bill" Gore in 1935. On their 23rd wedding anniversary, the Gores set aside the security of his job to start a business in the basement of the family's Newark home. Although she would serve in many roles during her lifelong career at W. L. Gore & Associates, Mrs. Gore's first charge was to see that all the bills were paid. From these modest beginnings, Mrs. Gore helped W. L. Gore & Associates grow into a successful global corporation, along the way developing thousands of innovative products and launching brands like GORE-TEX® fabric. Active in the company until her death, Mrs. Gore continued to be a presence at the company's offices and serve on the board of directors.

According to an obituary published in the News-Journal, “Mrs. Gore took a genuine interest in people, and her enthusiasm and warmth spawned a legion of devoted followers and friends. She embodied the values at the heart of W. L. Gore & Associates' unique corporate culture, most notably the belief in the inherent potential of every individual. A supportive and unifying figure among her family and friends as well as within the community, Mrs. Gore's energy, natural charm and smile endeared her to everyone she touched.”

Mrs. Gore was involved in numerous social and civic activities. She served as a member of the senior council for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and co-founded Delaware Community Services. She was named to the board of counselors of Goldey-Beacom College and was involved with the American Field Service and the Soroptimist Club. She also served as a member of the Girl Scouts President's Advisory Council and the board of governors for Winterthur Museum.

Interested in education, she held roles as president of the PTA and as a member of the local school board. Among the many recipients of her giving were Independence School, Wilmington Friends School, Goldey-Beacom College, Ashbrook School in Corvallis, Ore., and Westminister College.

Her honors included honorary degrees from Westminster College in Salt Lake City and Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, and she was named to the Delaware Women's Hall of Fame in 1989. Both she and her husband were elected to the Delaware Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame in 2003.

Mrs. Gore is survived by five children: Robert Gore of Newark, and his wife, Sally; Susan Gore of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Ginger Giovale of Flagstaff, Ariz., and her husband, John; David Gore of Corvallis, Ore., and his wife, Cecilia, and Elizabeth Snyder of Greenville; sister, Evelyn Urquhart of Sun City, Ariz.; 21 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, in Mitchell Hall. A reception will follow in Gore Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Genevieve W. Gore Fund for Music Education, c/o Delaware Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1636, Wilmington, DE 19899.

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