Westmont Magazine In Memory of Special Friends

Westmont is pleased to acknowledge legacy gifts from the estates of the following members of the Wallace Emerson Society.

Harold Emerson Kauffman had a long relationship with Westmont going back to the 1960s. After his career in accounting in Los Angeles, he retired to live in Scotts Valley, Calif., near Mt. Hermon. Mr. Kauffman believed in the mission of the college and set up two gift annuities, one in 1963 and the other in 1981. These gift annuities not only provided him with additional income but created a legacy at the college. Mr. Kauffman died in Sandpoint, Idaho, just two months shy of his 100th birthday.

Oliver Talbot Bryant made provision in his last will and testament, signed in Fillmore, Calif., in 1972, for a trust to be set up at his death that would ultimately benefit Westmont. Following his death in 1975, the trust was established to provide income to a sister and dear friend during their lifetimes with final distribution to five charities. Westmont received its share of the final distribution this fiscal year. This legacy gift set up many years ago has helped to increase Westmont’s endowment.

Grace B. Eby was a dear friend of the college and the wife of Trustee Emeritus Eldon L. Eby who joined the board of trustees at Westmont in 1956. She passed away in 1996 in Arcadia, Calif., and her memorial service was entitled, “A Celebration of Eternal Life.” In 1983 the Ebys established a Charitable Remainder Unitrust for a term of 18 years with Westmont acting as trustee. The trust has now terminated and the funds distributed to the college have been added to the endowment fund. The Ebys have shown their commitment to the college in many ways, including this legacy gift. Three of their grandchildren are Westmont alums, so the Eby family legacy continues.

John and Myrna Ekkens have been part of the Westmont family for many years. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1961 and their two daughters are Westmont alums, Shirley Miel ’65 and Beth McNees ’66. The Ekkens were known in their church and in the community as loving and caring people. Myrna passed away in 1999 and John in January 2002. Several years ago, when they created their family trusts, they included Westmont as a beneficiary. These legacy gifts have been distributed to the college to help secure the mission of the college this year and in the future through the endowment fund.

Carolyn De Young ’57 spent most of her life in San Mateo, Calif. She suffered from long-term health problems and passed away in December 2000. She created her last will and testament in 1977 with a provision that 90 percent of her estate be given to Westmont. This bequest is the largest the college has ever received from an alum. Her will included these words, “Realizing the uncertainty of this life, and with full confidence and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in His saving death on the cross for my sins, and in His saving life providing the assurance of eternal life, I do hereby declare this is my will.” Her generous legacy gift has helped us complete the campaign and will increase our endowment fund.

Madeline Jacobsen lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and had many charitable interests. When she died at age 98, her trust distributed gifts to many of the charities she supported. For many years she contributed gifts to the college for student scholarships. Her bequest was one more expression of her interest in supporting students at Westmont.

Virginia A. Perle and her husband, Bert A. Perle, chose Santa Barbara as the place they wanted to spend their retirement years. During those years they were supporters of the college as members of the Friends of Westmont. After his death, Mrs. Perle created a generous provision in her trust that established the Bert A. Perle and Virginia A Perle Endowed Scholarship Fund. Through this endowed scholarship, the Perles have left a very special legacy that will assist financially needy students each year.

Louise Swift Dorfmont attended Westmont and was a member of the Class of 1971. Prior to her death, she resided in Santa Paula, Calif., and supported the college with gifts for student scholarships and the Westmont Fund. Her family recently made us aware of a bequest in her trust that will provide a legacy gift that represents her love for the college and her concern for current and future students.