For Bonnie Dubbin Askowitz, the University of Miami is not just her alma mater; it is part of her family’s history. Now, Askowitz and her family are creating a tangible marker of that history on the University’s Coral Gables campus.
Askowitz’s college journey began at the University of Florida, but she later transferred to the University of Miami, where she majored in English at the College of Arts and Sciences and graduated in 1962.
While her parents did not attend the University of Miami, they were avid Canes supporters—her father, a devoted football fan, never missed a game—and many of her relatives are Canes. One of Askowitz’s sisters graduated from the University and another spent a year on campus. Askowitz’s son earned his degree from the Miami Herbert Business School and her daughter-in-law graduated from the University’s School of Law. One of Askowitz’s granddaughters completed a graduate degree at the University and then served as an assistant dean of students, while another granddaughter is currently completing the University's law program. Askowitz estimates that at least 16 members of her extended family have been part of the University community over the years.
As a result, the University has played a role in family traditions, game days, career paths, and lifelong friendships. “We’ve really been around the University for years,” Askowitz said. “It was much smaller when I was there, but it always felt like home.”
In 1978, Askowitz began giving back to the University. What started as a $50 donation grew into a decades-long tradition of giving. Nearly every year since then, often more than once, she has made a gift to her alma mater.
This year, as the University celebrates its centennial, Askowitz has taken her support one step further. She has rallied her family together for a special tribute: a named bench on campus near Lake Osceola. The gift is symbolic, not only of the family’s long connection to the University, but also of Askowitz’s desire to gather her loved ones and make a mark during such a meaningful milestone.
“It will be nice to have a bench dedicated to our family,” she said. “Something that says: ‘We were here.’”
The bench will include a plaque bearing the family name Dubbin, Askowitz’s maiden name, which is derived from the Ukrainian word for “oak.”
A proud Miami native with deep roots in the city, Askowitz has felt a lifelong love for “The U.”
She was born and raised in Miami, and her family has been here since the early 1900s. Over the decades, her family has helped shape the city’s civic and cultural life. Her grandfather established Miami’s first Jewish congregation, Beth David, her father became a judge, and her brother served in the Florida Legislature. Askowitz, who initially worked as a teacher and is now an artist, previously served as a Democratic committeewoman and remains a passionate activist for women’s rights and community causes.
Life on campus looked different when Askowitz was a student—no phones and no internet, but plenty of energy and connection. She remembers that without the distractions of modern technology, students found their own ways to have fun. Askowitz was highly involved on campus: she was the president of her sorority, took summer courses, and participated in many school events, immersing herself in both academics and friendships.
It was in one of her education classes where she met her future husband (now her ex-husband), with whom she raised a family in Miami, inspiring an affinity for the University in the next generation.
Askowitz has worn many hats in her life, from teacher to artist, activist, mother, grandmother, and even great-grandmother, but her love for the University has remained steady.
Now, with her family gathered around the bench bearing the family name, that legacy will live on for generations to come.
