Gift Planning

Opening Doors for the Next Generation: Jim Laditka ’73, MAT ’76 and Sarah (Rubinton) ’74 Laditka

How did your experience at Colgate shape your lives?

We met at Colgate in the early 1970s in an 18th-century British literature seminar taught by Professor Neill Joy and were married in Hamilton during Sarah’s graduation weekend. Our Colgate education prepared us for anything. Living in Hamilton for several decades after graduating, we completed degree programs in computer science, economics, education, English, nursing, finance, management, and public administration. We had careers as educators. We taught thousands of students, managed academic programs, and mentored more than 100 doctoral students in research. Although we recently retired, we continue to mentor doctoral students and conduct research.

Tell us what influenced your decision to donate and how your gift will be used.

We are both approaching the milestone of our 50th reunions — a wonderful opportunity to include Colgate in our estate planning. We are pleased that our bequest contributes to our 50th reunion class gifts. Our bequest is to the Class of 1943 World War II Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund in memory of Sarah’s father, Noel Rubinton ’43, and the other members of his great class. We participated in seven of their reunions and got to know many members of the class well. Their optimism, wisdom, and resilience inspired us. Our experiences at Colgate opened doors for us throughout our lives. We hope the students supported by the Class of 1943 Fund will have similar opportunities.

Why is it important for other alumni to support Colgate?

Our world faces a lot of challenges, and so do today’s students. They need an ability to think critically and creatively. Colgate’s strong liberal arts tradition is more important than ever. Supporting Colgate’s Third-Century Plan will help the next generation of students succeed.

The discussion herein is general in nature and may not apply to all individuals. Prospective donors are urged to consult their personal tax and financial advisors concerning the specific consequences of making gifts to Colgate. We would be pleased to discuss, in confidence, ways in which you may support Colgate. These measures may also have an impact on your estate planning.