About 50 people gathered for Alice M. Geronsin’s celebration of life on Aug. 20. (Al Zdon)
An official unveiling of a plaque and sign marked the renaming of the Alice M. Geronsin Apartments at 616 Washington St. NE on Aug. 20.
The apartments were originally named the Sibley Triangle Manor, but the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) renamed the facility in March to honor the life of Geronsin, who lived in the building for 37 years and was a leader in residents’ rights.
Geronsin died last year.
The Alice M. Geronsin Apartments building is only the second MPHA building in the city to be renamed in honor of a resident.
The event drew about 50 people, and many of the group posed for a photo with the new sign on the front lawn. A plaque honoring Geronsin, a photo of her and a letter that had appeared in the Northeaster newspaper were also unveiled at the celebration of Geronsin’s life.
“I’ve known Alice for 32 years, and because of her this was my favorite building to come to,” said Mary Boler, Director of Operations for the MPHA. “She had a great sense of humor and she created a sense of community here for so many residents.”
Ward 3 Councilor Michael Rainville said he had a history with the property when he attended Our Lady of Lourdes grade school before it was razed to build the apartment building. He praised Geronsin’s leadership in the community.
Shirley Brown, president of the building’s resident council, said the renaming will ensure that Geronsin’s legacy lives on.
MPHA Director of Operations Mary Boler next to the Geronsin plaque. (Al Zdon)
Donna Draves, who wrote a letter to the Northeaster that is now framed in the building’s main hallway, read the letter telling about Geronsin’s life. “The residents’ needs and happiness were important to her.”
Resident Flo Kasner spoke of Geronsin’s “random acts of kindness” and said, “Alice was special and will be in our hearts forever. Our grief has given way to gratitude for all she was and all she did.”
Another resident, Barbara Harris, recalled the time Geronsin, who was a motorcycle enthusiast in her younger years, went to the biker rally at Sturgis, S.D.
“We were doing a food drive at the time, and she came back from Sturgis with a lot of food for the food shelf. That year Northeast won the food shelf contest. Her good works will continue because of who she was.”
Minneapolis Public Housing Authority houses 26,000 people in Minneapolis. The Alice M. Geronsin Apartments has 35 units.