Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
A Quiet Life, Accentuated by a Passion for Education
Phil and Mary Lou Herbert were like many couples who grew up in Ashtabula after World War II. They met in high school, got married after Phil served in the Korean War, bought a house and went to work to build their dream - Phil as a chemist at General Tire (GenCorp) and Mary Lou an office manager for the Illuminating Company.
According to their friend and estate planner of more than 30 years, Stuart Cordell, they lived a quiet life, and were extremely devoted to each other. "Neither of them had a college degree," he says, "But they both believed that education was vitally important, and wanted to help students in Ashtabula County."
Small Steps Add Up to Big Impact
A faculty member at Kent State since 1995, David Kessler has had an insider's perspective on the unique needs of the university for many years. His wife, Audrey, also has been an active member of the community and an admirer of the music program at Kent State. The variety of passions they've pursued at the university led them to create four endowed planned gifts: a professorship and a speaker series in the new School of Peace and Conflict Studies, a professorship in forensics and a scholarship for oboe students.