Austin J. Gerber, former acting president ofSacramento State, died Jan. 28 of complications frompneumonia. He was 83.

Mr.. Gerber joined the university faculty in 1965 andbecame chairman of the Department of OrganizationalBehavior and Environment in 1967.

In 1973, he was appointed dean of what is now theCollege of Business Administration.

He became the university?s acting president in 1982after Lloyd Johns left for another job. He served inthat capacity until the current president, DonaldGerth, assumed the post in 1983.

In 1986 he retired as the dean of the university?sSchool of Business Administration.

As a combat veteran of World War II, Mr. Gerberreceived the Purple Heart for wounds he sufferedfighting in Europe during the last few months of thewar, according to his son, Michael Wand-Gerber.

Mr. Gerber was born in Philadelphia on Feb. 23, 1918.He earned a bachelor?s degree from the University ofAlabama, a master?s degree in Far Eastern history fromStanford University and a law degree from GeorgetownUniversity.

He met and married his wife, Nell, in Germany. Theyreturned to the United States in 1955 and attended theDefense Language Institute in Monterey before movingto Taiwan, according to a Sac State memo.

Mr. Gerber taught at the Army?s judge advocategeneral?s school at the University of Virginia forfive years and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Hejoined the Sac State faculty to teach business law.

“He was immensely helpful and supportive?I could nothave asked for more,” Gerth said in a statement to thecampus community. “He became not only a colleague, buta friend. We are indebted to him.”

Mr. Gerber?s community service included membership inthe Rotary Club of Sacramento, where he was president,and the Sacramento Commerce and Trade Organization. Survivors include his son, Michael Wand-Gerber ofCologne, Germany; and a brother, Jim Gerber ofAbsecom, N.J.

send comments to [email protected]