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The children of Allene Atkinson Hull ’56 recently contacted the UMW Office of Gift Planning to arrange the transfer of a gift from their mother’s estate.

Allene attended Mary Washington and then married her childhood sweetheart in 1956. She engaged in the life of a Navy officer’s wife and then settled back in Norfolk, where Allene and Bill co-owned Atkinson Dredging Company and Atlantic Yacht Basin of Great Bridge. Allene enjoyed gardening, tennis, and playing the piano.

She often talked about her time at Mary Washington and the wonderful friends she made along the way. This gift will pay tribute to Allene, while offering support to Mary Washington music students.

For information about becoming a member of the Heritage Society, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.

Dear Alumni and Friends:

Our beautiful campus has sprung to life over the last couple of months, bustling with events, activities, athletic competitions, performances, and more. I recently had the opportunity to witness the philanthropic spirit of the UMW community at Mary Wash Day and the Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase.

It was such a joy to watch as many of you had the chance to see firsthand the remarkable work our students have engaged in alongside their faculty mentors over the past semester and year. All of this was made possible because of your private support.

Soon, we’ll graduate the Class of 2024, whose members will then go out into the world to put into action the public liberal arts and sciences education they earned at Mary Washington. While they’re making a difference in their respective communities and fields, I hope they’ll continue to be inspired by the generous investments you have made in their lives and education.

Thank you for supporting public higher education and for remaining forever true to Mary Washington.

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