ORONO — A $500,000 donation from a University of Maine alumnus will be used to renovate Alfond Arena, home of the Black Bears hockey and basketball teams, and Memorial Gym and Field House on the Orono campus.

The gift comes from Tom Savage, a retired attorney who graduated in 1968, and his wife Sally. The Savages live in Key Largo, Fla., and have a summer home in Searsport. They’ve been among the university’s most generous benefactors.

UMaine President Paul Ferguson says the donation gives a tremendous boost to efforts to upgrade those facilities.

The $4.85 million Alfond Arena project includes new seating, upgraded ice-making and a new air-handling system. A plan for the $14 million upgrade to Memorial Gym and Field House goes before the university system trustees at their November meeting.


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