01/12/2026
Statement from Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School on the Passing of Louis V. Gerstner Jr.
The Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School community joins countless others in mourning the recent passing of Louis V. Gerstner Jr. (December 27, 2026), a visionary leader whose generosity and commitment to education have left a lasting mark on our school and on Catholic education more broadly.
Mr. Gerstner believed deeply in the power of Catholic education to transform lives—especially for young people facing challenging circumstances. His conviction that every student possesses inherent dignity, promise, and potential aligned profoundly with Kolbe’s mission. Through his generosity, insight, and trust, he helped ensure that a rigorous, faith-filled education remains accessible to students and families who need it most.
The Louis V. Gerstner III Center for Students and Families stands as a tangible expression of that belief and of the love Mr. Gerstner held for his son, in whose memory the Center is named. More importantly, it is a living testament to his vision: a place where students are supported academically, formed in character, and encouraged to pursue their God-given gifts with confidence and hope.
We are deeply grateful for Mr. Gerstner’s partnership, his faith in our students, and his unwavering support of Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School. His legacy will endure in the lives of the young men and women whose futures have been changed because he dared to believe in the promise of Catholic education.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Gerstner family and to all who loved him. Our students, staff, faculty and Board of Directors will honor him and Bishop Caggiano will celebrate a memorial Mass at the St. Augustine Cathedral on February 12, 2026 at 9:30am. May he rest in peace.
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