The Library Café, a $1.6 million sleek electronic study center modeled after the popular
New York Internet cafés, opened on January 29, 1999. A few months later alumnus and
Dell Computer Corporation co-owner Morton Topfer and his wife Angela made a
$1,000,000 gift to the College. On the afternoon of June 2, 2000, the Topfers, elected
officials, faculty, administrators, and students gathered on the plaza outside the Café to
see the Morton and Angela Topfer Library Café officially dedicated at a gala balloon-
festooned celebration. Among the guests were Herbert E. Berman, Chair of the New
York City Council's Finance Committee, and Jack Esterson, principal in the architectural
firm of Thanhauser and Esterson which designed the Café. Live classical music and chilled
champagne helped set the tone for an event fully as elegant as the facility it celebrated.
The afternoon's festivities were webcast so that Texas friends and Topfer family
members could join in the celebration.
The planning group for this event was chaired by Interim Deputy Chancellor Patricia
Hassett, with presidential assistant Jane Herbert as the local point person. By anyone's
standard, it was a beautiful party and the Topfers seemed very pleased. We created
special mouse pads for the occasion, and the Café staff designed a digital dedication which
ran in the Café on a continuous loop during the reception that followed the dedication. Deputy Chancellor Hassett and Chief Librarian Barbra Higginbotham worked with
architect Jack Esterson to design a framed keepsake for the Topfers which included
photos of the facility.
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