CONTACT: Sarah Lingenfelter, Media Relations 585.567.9559
Houghton Honors Buffalo Businessman Carl Lambein
HOUGHTON, N.Y. —Houghton College recognized Carl Lambein for his continuous support of the college and honored his 100th birthday with a portrait unveiling on Saturday, July 28.
Lambein, a prominent Buffalo businessman, founded Southgate Plaza in 1955. While building Southgate Plaza, Lambein needed to move a two-story house. At his own expense he moved the house to the Buffalo Suburban Campus of Buffalo Bible Institute located right next to Southgate Plaza. In 1969 Houghton College merged with Buffalo Bible Institute and thus began the relationship between Houghton and Lambein.
In 1972 Lambein made possible and broke ground for the Lambein Learning Center, the main academic building, located at Houghton’s West Seneca campus. From 1978-1998 he served as a member on Houghton’s president’s advisory council on excellence and in 1982 he helped put in place the Tele-link communications systems linking Houghton’s main campus and the West Seneca campus.
Lambein Residence Hall on the main campus in Houghton, which houses 150 female students, was renamed in honor of his late wife Irma Lambein, who passed away in 1984.
Carl Lambein’s portrait will hang in the Lambein Learning Center. His portrait was the last commissioned portrait painted by Aileen Ortlip Shea. Shea passed away at the age of 95 on March 24. Her daughter Eila Shea, who is an art teacher at Houghton Academy, finished the painting.
