A Fisher family tradition

Three generations of Gerson/Rosenberg Gators at the Fisher School of Accounting: Donald Gerson (BSAc '61), Dana Gerson Rosenberg (BSAc ‘94, MAcc ‘94), and Alec Rosenberg (BSAc ‘26).

When Donald Gerson (BSAc ’61) first stepped onto the University of Florida campus, he had no idea of the familial legacy he would create that would follow in his footsteps. 

Studying accounting in the Fisher School of Accounting, Gerson was a dedicated student with a passion for his field and his university. Post-graduation, he began his career at a small firm in Miami Beach before joining his brother, Gary Gerson (BSAc ‘54, MBA ‘55), at what eventually became Gerson, Preston, Klein, Lips, Eisenberg & Gelber.

In the home, Gerson was also a dedicated family man. He married Sandy Gerson and had three children: Hal Gerson, Mindy Gerson and Dana Gerson Rosenberg (BSAc ‘94, MAcc ’94). The love for his alma mater and his profession resonated deeply with Dana, who later chose to follow Gerson in his footsteps in studying accounting at UF. 

“I’ve always loved numbers — math was always my favorite subject growing up and came easy for me,” Dana said. “Accounting, with its structure and clarity, felt like a natural fit.”

With a proud Gator father, Dana would always hear about her father talking about his time at UF with a proud “Go Gators!” chant. Her familial excitement and the rigorous, focused education the Fisher School of Accounting made UF the clear path for her university education.  

“Fisher prepared me incredibly well — academically, professionally and personally,” she said. “The curriculum gave me a strong foundation in both audit and tax, and the professors were not only brilliant but deeply invested in our success. On top of that, Fisher’s recruiting resources opened so many doors. 

“I had many options coming out of school, and ultimately chose to join KPMG’s audit practice in Atlanta — a path I felt fully equipped to take thanks to my time at UF.”

At KPMG, she had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and become a senior manager. After she began to start a family, she shifted her career to a part-time audit role with various firms in Atlanta and Miami to maintain a meaningful career while raising her children. 

Gerson peacefully passed away on March 14, 2025. His legacy of love, hard work and dedication continues to inspire his family and specifically lives on through his grandson Alec Rosenberg (BSAc ’26) as he is currently a junior pursuing accounting at UF. 

“I ultimately chose UF to follow in my family’s footsteps and attend a great university that checked off many boxes on my college decision,” Alec said. “As I began taking intro accounting classes at UF, everything just clicked.”

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see Alec at UF,” Dana said. “It’s been such a treat to share this part of his journey. It was so fun taking him into Gerson Hall and seeing my uncle’s photo on the wall and my name on awards plaques from 1994!”

Following his mother and grandfather’s steps, Alec has been able to create many shared experiences and memories with them. Having the same professors, taking the same classes and walking through the same halls connects the family deeper to the university and each other.

“Being part of three generations of Gators is incredibly special,” Dana said. “UF, and especially the Fisher School of Accounting, is a very meaningful connection  — it’s where our family legacy took root and continues to grow. There’s something really powerful about walking the same paths as my dad and uncles and knowing future generations might do the same.”