​The Bernardsville Library Foundation mourns the loss of one of its Honorary Trustees, Eugene Kalkin, who passed away on November 14.

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Eugene Kalkin, a resident of Bernardsville for more than 40 years, was a trailblazer in the retail industry. He founded Linens ‘n Things in 1975 which started as a chain of 8 stores. By the time Mr. Kalkin sold the company in 1983, Linens ‘n Things had grown to 55 stores becoming one of the largest specialty retailers of home textiles, housewares, and decorative home accessories in the country.

 

Mr. Kalkin was a graduate of the University of Vermont School of Business Administration. He spearheaded the campaign to construct a new home for what is now known as the Grossman School of Business, giving one of the largest donations every received by UVM at the time. Kalkin Hall at UVM was named in honor of Mr. Kalkin’s philanthropic efforts for the university.

 

Eugene and his late wife Joan were also supporters of the Bernardsville Library Foundation. We are grateful to Eugene Kalkin for his years of service to this organization as an honorary trustee and we send our deepest condolences to his family.