Bequests Create Legacy of Scholarship and Excellence

Pacific University recently received a bequest that will fund two new scholarships for Pacific students.

The Gordon N. Zimmerman Endowed Music Scholarship will provide financial assistance to vocal music students, while the Jeffrey Barlow Endowed History Scholarship will provide financial support to a declared history major.

From an early age, it was obvious that Gordon Zimmerman had a beautiful voice, and he was encouraged by his parents to pursue classical voice training and his dream of being an opera singer. Gordon balanced careers in business and vocal performance, most notably singing the tenor role in the U.S. premier of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Though not a Pacific alumnus, in 1940, Gordon attended Music in May, the only college-sponsored high school music festival in the Northwest, and later in his life maintained connections with Pacific’s music faculty. In his retirement, Gordon wrote a book, A Song of Yamhill, a history of Yamhill and Yamhill County, with the help of his neighbor, Pacific Professor Emeritus of History Jeffrey Barlow.

When Gordon passed away in September 2016, he included Pacific in his will, leaving the university a bequest totaling $215,000. This gift was split in half and used to establish two endowed scholarships: the Gordon N. Zimmerman Endowed Music Scholarship and the Jeffrey Barlow Endowed History Scholarship, named in honor of his friend, neighbor and writing partner.

A second bequest recently received by Pacific will fund special projects to enhance the excellence of Pacific.

Elsie Lucia was the widow of Ellis Lucia ’44, a well-known author and journalist who wrote about the environmental history of the Pacific Northwest. After Ellis passed away in 2002, Elsie donated a large collection of his works, papers, photos and memorabilia to the Pacific University Archives to be available for study.

Elsie, who passed away in early 2017, made a bequest to Pacific totaling $240,000 from the Lucia estate. It will provide flexibility to address specific needs of the university at the behest of the president.

A bequest is a great way to support Pacific University. By arranging for a specific amount or percentage of an estate to be gifted to Pacific, donors may be able to provide more support than they would from their income alone. Bequests maximize the potential of a gift while creating a legacy that lives on.

Creating a bequest through a will or living trust is really easy. A simple provision or amendment prepared by your attorney at the time you make or update your will or trust is all that is necessary.

Is Pacific University already in your will, trust or other estate plans? If so, thank you! Please let us know about your plans because it helps Pacific plan for the future.

Don’t have a will? Now is a great time to start planning, and consider including a bequest to Pacific University in your estate plans. Contact Jan Stricklin, Associate Vice President for University Advancement, to let her know of your giving plans or for suggested bequest language.