Meet Our Donors
We thank all our planned-gift donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.
Kendal: ‘A painless way to give’
Sheila and Bernard Eckstein, Kendal at Oberlin
Sheila and Bernard Eckstein say that moving to Kendal at Oberlin in 2002 was “the best decision we ever made. We’ve been very happy and have never regretted it.”
Sheila—an artist and an art historian—and Bernard—who worked as a research chemist for Union Carbide Corp. and the Dupont Co.—say they especially appreciate the wide range of intellectual activities open to them at Kendal. Both regularly attend the many programs and lectures offered at Kendal. Sheila is an active member of the art and library committees, and Bernard is involved with the art and audiovisual committees and is active in the Science Discussion Group. They also attend lectures at nearby Oberlin College and concerts at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. They say living at Kendal is like living on a college campus, but without exams and homework.
The Ecksteins say they also are impressed by the emphasis on Quaker values at Kendal, including a sense of sharing and a feeling of community. “We love being here, and appreciate all that Kendal offers,” Sheila says. “And the idea of doing something for Kendal has been on our minds for some time.”
In light of the steep decline in the yield of fixed income securities, the Ecksteins say they decided the time was right to make a sizable gift to Kendal at Oberlin. They did this in the form of appreciated stock they had held for a long time. Besides an immediate income tax deduction, the Ecksteins’ charitable gift annuity will provide them with a dependable, fixed income for life. And a portion of the annuity payment will be tax-free.
“The idea to do something for Kendal came first,” Bernard says, “and due to the financial situation, we decided it made sense economically for us to give through a charitable gift annuity. Once we made the decision, it was simple to do. It’s a painless way to give.”
Would you like to explore, in confidence, the benefits of a charitable gift annuity? If so, please contact us.
Kendal: 'Enjoyable, interesting, and rewarding'
Lois and Hugh McCorkle, Kendal at Oberlin
Who says you can't go home again? When Lois and Hugh McCorkle decided it was time for a lifestyle change after both had retired from fulfilling careers as physicians and educators, they came back to Oberlin, where they had first met as college students.
"We met at Oberlin College only because Hugh had gone into the service," Lois recalls. Hugh, whose college career was interrupted by a four-year stint in the Navy during World War II, met fellow pre-med student Lois Pake in 1946 and learned they would both be attending Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) medical school together in Cleveland the following year. The college and medical school classmates were married in 1949.
After completing their medical internships in Durham, N.C., they returned to Cleveland in 1952. Hugh became a pathologist at Fairview General Hospital and a teacher in the Department of Pathology at CWRU. And, after completing U.S. Public Health Service postdoctoral fellowships in immunohematology and biostatistics/epidemiology, Lois became a faculty member and researcher in those fields at CWRU.
While raising a family in Cleveland, the McCorkles volunteered for several community groups, including PTA, Scouting, Planned Parenthood, and the Cleveland Health Museum. In addition, they have continued as active supporters of the CWRU College of Medicine and of Oberlin College.
When Kendal at Oberlin opened its doors in 1993, the McCorkles were among the first to move in. "We had old friends among the people living at Kendal even before we moved in, and we came in the second week it was open," Lois says. "We got in at the beginning; we were two of the founders." Recently they have both moved into the Stephens Care Center at Kendal.
At Kendal the McCorkles have taken full advantage of the wide range of social, intellectual, artistic, and wellness activities offered in the Kendal community and nearby. Hugh has acted as the co-convener of the jazz interest group since its inception in 1995 and taught in Project Learn's English as a Second Language program. "The continuing education courses provided by CWRU, Lorain County Community College, and Oberlin College right here at Kendal have provided us many hours of pleasure, as has our participation in local square dance, line dance, and folk dance clubs and groups, which have also been the source of many new friendships," Lois says.
"In fact, enjoyable, interesting, and rewarding pretty much sum up our view of our lives here at Kendal at Oberlin, with its caring staff and administration and so many dear friends, old and new," Lois says. "We think Kendal is very well run, and it's been very good for us."
Because of their high regard for Kendal, the McCorkles say they have made ongoing contributions in memory of their friends to the Residents Assistance Fund. "This is a beautiful way to give tribute to our community relationships and to assist those who may outlive their financial resources," Lois says.
"We were so impressed with both the Residents Assistance Fund and the Stephens Education Fund that we've made donations to both," Lois says. Contributions to the Stephens Education Fund support Kendal staff interested in careers in long term care and other programs that advance caring for the aging.
"Staff members especially have told us how much they appreciate donations to the education fund. We do that regularly," Lois said.
If you would like to explore, in confidence, how you can play a role in Kendal's culture of generosity and mutual caring, please contact: Barbara Thomas, Executive Director, Kendal at Oberlin, at 440-775-0094 or at bthomas@kao.kendal.org.