Arthur (Art) M. Blum became the second President of Point Park University in 1967, after working in multiple administrative roles, said Albert McLean in “Point Park College: The First 25 Years”.
Blum was the youngest college president in the country at the time. During the time of his presidency, Point Park became accredited by the regional accrediting association. The college also expanded its programs and facilities and became an active role in the cultural life of Pittsburgh.
Additionally, Point Park purchased Sherwyn Hotel, now known as Lawerence Hall, under Blum’s leadership.
However, Blum resigned from his role due to a financial crisis where Point Park failed to meet 253,000 monthly payrolls for 445 employes in 1973.
Helen Fallon, a Point Park alumna, worked as a student work employee during the summer of 1973 during Blum’s presidency.
Fallon didn’t get to know him, but she worked throughout the top administrative offices and would sub in and answer the phone in the president’s office when Blum’s assistant wasn’t available.
Fallon was in the office during the financial crisis. Blum was receiving a lot of phone calls from newspapers, said Fallon.
“It was my summer job,” Fallon said. “I am witnessing Point Park history basically.”
It was a tradition a group of Blum’s students started with him a few years ago.
A Point Park faculty member and alumni, George Bromall, was also a student while Blum was in office.
“He came into the Computer Center one evening as I was running student programs,” Bromall said. “I thought I was in trouble.”
It turns out Blum was simply curious about the computer and what Bromall was doing. At the time, Point Park had the IBM 360, which was the state of the art in computers then.
“We became friends, and I was amazed that the university president would care to spend time with a student worker,” Bromall said. “That friendship prevailed until his death.”
In the past several years, a group of students including Bromall started a tradition of travelling to Raleigh, North Carolina to spend a weekend with Blum for his birthday.
This year they enjoyed a visit with Blum to celebrate his 90th birthday, said Bromall.
“Art was one of the most creative and visionary people I have ever met. He was a Renaissance Man. His vision for PPU in 1967 was like he could see 2024,” said Bromall
“The stories of his time at PPU and his subsequent forays in ballet and business made for delightful afternoons, evenings that would last late into the night. He was a very important person in my life and education, and he is missed.”
