Schaefer leaves $25,000 to St. Mary’s Collegen Building on campus was named after former governor
By JESSE YEATMAN
Staff writer
William Donald Schaefer’s written will unveiled this week contained plenty of surprises to go along with the former governor’s flamboyant nature, including $25,000 left to St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
The former Baltimore City mayor, state governor and comptroller died April 18 at the age of 89. He had a close relationship with St. Mary’s College; a classroom building is named after him. His will says the $25,000 should be used for St. Mary’s College intern program or for whatever use on behalf of the college its president deems appropriate, according to his will, which was dated Jan. 8, 2009.
Schaefer was governor when St. Mary’s College was named a public honors college in 1992 and given more autonomy from other public colleges and universities in the state.
“Gov. Schaefer left a tremendous legacy for the college to build on,” St. Mary’s College President Joseph Urgo said in a statement released after Schaefer’s death. “Throughout his partnership with the college he championed our growth, allowing us to build high-quality facilities for students and advancing our unique charter and mission.”
In 1994, the college named its then-new science building after Schaefer, who was governor at the time and instrumental in securing funding for the facility, college officials said. According to information from the college, Schaefer was on a tour of the antiquated science labs then in the basement of Kent Hall when he vowed he would fund a new science building if college officials promised to get him out of that basement.
Schaefer also served as a member of the college’s board of trustees from 1995 until 2007, at which time he was awarded the Order of Ark and Dove, the highest honor the college grants.
“Don Schaefer laid the foundation for the honors college,” former St. Mary’s College president Maggie O’Brien said in a prepared statement. “He also was a champion of women and the underdog. Coming in as a female president, when there were some detractors, he would take me by the arm and march me up like I was the most important person in the world. He was just terrific.”
A number of undergraduates have gotten hands-on experience in public policy and service from the college’s Schaefer internship programs, including the Schaefer Internship for Government Service, the Schaefer Internship in the Office of the Comptroller, and the Schaefer Legislative Internship, according to the college statement.
“I think public service is the best job around,” Schaefer once said of the programs named in his honor. “Having the chance to be a part of government for a summer shows students that they do not have to be an elected official to affect change. You just need to get informed and speak up.”
Schaefer’s estate is estimated at $2.4 million, including $400,000 in real estate, according to documents released with the will this week.
In addition to St. Mary’s College, Schaefer also left $15,000 for the University of Baltimore William Donald Schaefer Center for Public Policy; $5,000 to Baltimore City College Alumni Association; and $2,500 to the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs intern program.
Nancy Grasmick, the state superintendent of public schools, was also given $2,500, according to the will, “to use for the educational needs of the children of the state of Maryland, in her sole discretion.”
The bequest also included money to a number of individuals and modest amounts to the Baltimore Zoo and the National Aquarium in the city, among other provisions.
jyeatmansomdnews.com
