Dr. George F. Knerr

Knerr, Dr. George F.
Wesley Hills, NY: George Francis Knerr passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 27, 1921, to Irene (Collins) Knerr and George F. Knerr, Sr. He was raised in Queens until he was inducted into the Army in 1942.
He received his B.A. degree in history cum laude from St. John's College, a Master of Arts from St. John's University in History, and a Ph.D. from New York University in 1957. His doctoral thesis analyzed and elaborated on the history of New York City.
He taught at St. John's University and later joined the staff of Pace University. This association would continue for the next 40 years and included a host of responsibilities including: Director of Graduate Division, Dean of Admissions, Dean of Student Personnel, and Vice-President for Facilities, Planning and Development.
During this time, Dr. Knerr was the lead project administrator in the implementation of the growth of Pace University to a major institution including the building of the main downtown NYC campus, the development of the Westchester campuses and Graduate School, The School of Nursing and The School of Law. His influence has been felt in almost every area of concern of the University.
Dr. Knerr was a member of numerous professional organizations including the Middle Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Administration in which he held the office of President, and the Middle States Assoc. College accreditation Team.
Dr. Knerr was a Trustee for The Maryknoll School of Technology, and the New York Institute of Credit. He was lector and past president of the St Boniface Church Parish Council in Wesley Hills, NY where he resided for 36 years.
Dr. Knerr married Agnes Doyle on February 2, 1944 at St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica, NY. They were married for sixty-three years and had ten children, twenty-two grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren whom he loved and cherished immensely. He was predeceased by his wife in 2005 and a son, Thomas Michael.
He is survived by Kathleen McFarland of New City, NY, Maureen Byrnes of Phoenix, MD, E. Pat Geraci of Ridge-field, CT, Joan Whitehouse of Haver-straw, NY, Paul Knerr of Pierrefonds, Quebec, Rita Riehman of Ossining, NY, Frank Knerr of Nanuet, NY, Bernadette Alcide of Monroe, NY, and Marybeth Interdonato of Ridgefield, CT.
The family will be present to receive friends and relatives on Saturday, October 27th and Sunday, October 28th from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the WANAMAKER & CARLOUGH F.H., 177 RT 59, SUFFERN, NY 10977. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Monday, October 29th at St Boniface Church in Wesley Hills, NY. Burial will follow at Long Island National Cemetery in Pine-lawn, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The George and Agnes Knerr Endowed Scholarship Fund in Nursing. Send donations made payable to Pace University, Office of Philanthropy, 1 Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038.