Local residents plan ahead to support Great Lives at UMW
When Al and Sue Roth were looking for a retirement home, they landed in Fredericksburg, Virginia. “After living in the Pocono Mountains for 17 years, we wanted to move somewhere with better weather,” says Al. “We were fortunate to find a retirement community that had everything we wanted. A bonus turned out to be the many programs offered through the University of Mary Washington.”
Al and Sue have lived in the Celebrate by Del Webb community for 11 years and are on campus often for concerts, plays, ElderStudy programs, and lectures. They specifically have become fans and supporters of the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lectures Series.
“We enjoy having a wonderful program like this so close to us,” says Sue. “I find it thought-provoking and really without equal. The speakers are very engaging, and we can attend any of the programs of interest to us.”
Al agrees, “The Great Lives program is very unique, and some of our neighbors join us. We usually meet for dinner somewhere beforehand and then go hear the lectures. It makes a great night out, as we are entertained and often learn something new at the same time.”
Al and Sue recently became members of the UMW Heritage Society when they transferred funds from their traditional IRA to create a charitable gift annuity. This estate planning option first offered in 2023 allowed them to satisfy a portion of their required minimum distribution (RMD), while offering future support to the Great Lives lecture series.
“We are the first to make this type of gift to UMW through our IRA,” says Al. “What’s great is that we can get money back while spreading our tax liabilities over the next several years, and the charitable gift annuity will support a program we enjoy and appreciate.”
Married for 52 years, Al and Sue first met at a mixer in Lehigh, Pennsylvania. Al has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in business management. Sue has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education.
After they were married, they moved around quite a bit due to Al’s service in the Air Force and his expertise in design engineering. His specialty was designing air pollution control equipment for refineries, electrical generating plants, coke ovens, and steel mills. Sue taught third grade up through eighth grade at schools in nearby towns.
Now that they are permanently situated in Fredericksburg, they have time to participate in a few hobbies. Al loves visiting historic sites, hiking battlefields, and soaking up the local culture. Sue has her quarter horse, Max, boarded near their home. She says it is therapeutic to be able to ride again, an activity she has enjoyed since childhood. They also are now close enough to visit with their two children: Adam, a teacher in Virginia Beach; and John, a restaurant owner in Rochester, New York.
The couple looks forward to future Mary Washington activities and events. “From our past work experiences and all the places we’ve lived, we’ve seen many educational institutions focused inward,” says Al. “I think it’s fantastic that Mary Washington reaches out with so many wonderful programs to connect with the community at large.”
For more information about gift annuities, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.
Article by Donna Harter, University Advancement
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