Meet Our Donors

We thank all our planned-gift donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.

A Malone Love Story Spans 35 Years… and Counting! John A. ’77 & Elizabeth (Auer) Dorsey ‘76

My Malone educational experience prepared me for my life and career. With all of our experiences, and God’s leading, we chose to make Malone our planned giving destination.
- John A. ’77 and Liz (Auer) Dorsey ‘76

Through it all, we have remained steadfastly committed to God and to one another. How, you may ask? It is by God’s power and the love of Jesus, and our walk with God that started at Malone.

Remember the decades-ago romance novel, Love Story?

And, who could forget the movie’s most infamous, oft-quoted, and ridiculous line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Written originally as a screenplay and sold to Paramount Studios by Erich Segal, a Harvard University professor of Greek and Latin literature, Segal was urged by Paramount to adapt the screenplay into a book. Strategically savvy, studio executives calculated that the movie’s pre-publicity promotion would be a surefire success. And, it was.

Released on Valentine’s Day, 1970, the book – a runaway best seller and translated into 33 languages – was the top selling work of fiction for 1970. By the time the movie Love Story opened later that year on December 16, a rapid-rolling motion picture phenomenon was in full swing. Starring Ryan O’Neal as preppy Harvard student “Oliver Barrett IV,” and Ali McGraw as sarcastic Radcliffe student “Jennifer Cavelleri,” Love Story was not only a commercial success, but garnered Golden Globe awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress-Drama, and the Academy Award for Original Music Score.

A Love Story at Malone

In the fall of 1973, the Malone campus had its own version of a “love story” being written. It was then – during freshmen week – that a providential meeting between Alliance native, John “Whitey” Dorsey, and Circleville Bible College grad, Elizabeth “Liz” Auer, would ultimately “bloom into a life-long commitment,” explains John.

“I had come to Malone because of the influence of my first pastor, Byron Osborne, and also by my then-pastor Dr. Dymale,” John says. “Liz already had a B.A. in Sacred Literature from Circleville, but wanted to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education. She was planning on entering the mission field.”

The Dorsey’s uniquely sweet Malone campus love story, however, began with absolutely no romantic undercurrent. Nor was there any heart-palpitating “love at first sight” kind-of-feeling to suggest that a life-long commitment was in the making. In fact, John describes their first meeting as a “less than stellar” experience. John and Liz barely tolerated each other.

“Liz thought I was obnoxious, which I was, at age 17. I thought she was a grump,” muses John. “we both went forward , not giving any more thought about the other, until we met some time later in a Malone algebra class. This time, our meeting was different, but I did not realize why until years later.”

Before they re-connected, the couple had each experienced God-given, life-changing experiences. “Since my initial meeting with Liz, I had made a true commitment to Jesus Christ,” John says. “I had undergone a change and my conversion was clear to Liz.”

In algebra class they shared about their Christian ministry experiences. John had spent that summer with the United Methodist Youth Musicale chaperoning and singing in a large choir that traveled 1,300 miles within Ohio. Liz had been a Salvation Army camp counselor for inner-city youth in Buffalo, New York. They became close friends and together attended Bethel Assembly of God Church, next-door to campus.

“I knew John was the man for me before he did,” Liz says. “And, we would never have met if God had not led both of us to Malone,” John adds.

The Dorsey’s each took part in many activities: John was involved with the performing arts and worked in campus security; Liz was dorm chaplain and participated in mission trips.

“After Malone, I was involved in missions work with the Kiowa Indians in Oklahoma, helping build a sanctuary for them. I also went on a 30-day mission trip to Sierra Leone, Africa,” Liz reminisces. “It’s [Missions] really why I came to Malone.”

Favorite memories from their 1970’s Malone days include John campaigning for Tony Campolo, Ph.D., (a 2006 Malone Worldview Forum proponent), in his bid for Congress, and Liz instructing a horsemanship class. And, after 35 years, Liz still maintains contact with her former college roommate, Suzanne Walton Tupper ’78.

A Life-Changing Event

The Dorsey’s married on April 8, 1978. In time, they were blessed by the arrival of daughters Faith and Christine, and as John recounts, “we experienced many years of happiness with God leading us in between.”

But in 2002, their lives would be forever changed when 20-year old Christine took her own life.

“I am not sure that anyone can imagine the devastation and loneliness that came over Faith, Liz, and me. You have heard about the ‘dark night of the soul’ – we were now living it,” John recalls. Tragically – just 12 days later – a beloved family friend, Delores, whom the Dorseys called their “adopted daughter,” died unexpectedly.

“Needless to say,” John continues, “our lives are forever changed. We have had many low points in which we wanted to die, literally. Through it all, we have remained steadfastly committed to God and to one another. How, you may ask? It is by God’s power and the love of Jesus, and our walk with God that started at Malone.”

Caring deeply for Malone and in steadfast support of its mission, the Dorseys have included Malone in their estate planning.

“God call us to be good stewards of all that he has given us, including making sure that our wishes live on after we do,” John explains. “There are many reasons why we have remembered Malone in our estate. The main reason is that Liz and I want to make sure that young people have a safe place in which to live and learn. It is vital to have a caring, loving environment for kids to thrive when tempted by the world. Malone and other Christian colleges are bright cities of light on a hill for the world to see the love of Jesus. Christian higher education has always suffered from under funding. Therefore, we want to support Malone with a significant gift from our estate.”

John is a senior representative for Home Loan Services, Inc. (a division of Merrill Lynch Federal Savings Bank), in their resolutions department, working to set up repayment plans to help customers avoid foreclosure. Liz, a homemaker, and John enjoy their three grandchildren, daughter Faith and son-in-law Patrick’s children: Malory, 9; Cloe, 9; and Aaron, 18-months.

“My Malone educational experience prepared me for my life and career,” John says. “With all of our experiences and God’s leading, we chose to make Malone out only planned giving destination. We are not rich, but when you follow His leading, any gift you make will be transformed into a fortune.”

Malone is deeply grateful for John and Liz’s generous planned giving and for their hearts of passion to see Malone’s educational and mission of “Christ’s Kingdom First” continue to thrive for our students in the years to come.

A Profile of Prudent Planning - Paul W. Sell

Godly servant. Sacrificial giver. Prudent planner. Devoted husband. Loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle. Chemist. Poet. Teacher. Friend. These are but a few of the words to describe the late Paul W. Sell, who passed away in June 2006 after a lengthy illness.

Paul’s wife, Mary, is now courageously traveling down the difficult path of widow-hood, after celebrating more than 60 years of marriage with her beloved husband. Yet, Mary feels that her omniscient, gracious heavenly father began to prepare her in advance for this unwanted – and at times – excruciating lonely phase of her life.

“About a year and a half before my husband Paul died, Paul said, ‘Mary, I’m not going to be here with you much longer,” Mary says. “He knew, but I didn’t want to hear those words at all, and I always responded, ‘How am I going to live without you?’”

Mary is trying to do that now, by depending on the Lord each day. She reads her favorite scriptures found in the book of Psalms; particularly, 40, 46, and 91.

“My advice to any new widow or widower is to seek the Lord for guidance and strength,” Mary counsels, “stay active, surround yourself with family and friends, and to consider reading books about the grieving process.”

Jan Stuckey, (widow of the late James H. Stuckey, Professor of History and Sociology, and mother to Jacci Welling ’77, Associate Professor of History at Malone) provided Mary with a valuable resource in the first weeks following Paul’s death.

“Jan sent me an excellent book about grieving, and this was so helpful to me,” Mary says. “Jan’s encouraging notes, and those from other friends and family, were a tremendous support.”

Paul and Mary were both reared in Christian families and both helped on their family’s farms – Paul in Louisville and Mary in Minerva. The couple met as teenagers at the Stoneboro Camp Meeting in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania. On Christmas Eve, 1945, the Sells were married. A half century later, Paul penned Our Fifty Years Together commemorating their golden wedding anniversary and wrote in stanza two:

I’ll never forget that beautiful
winter scene
Fifty years ago when we shared
our vows on Christmas Eve.

“As part of our 5oth anniversary celebration, we agreed to write poems. It took me three weeks to write one page, but Paul wrote three pages in three hours!” Mary marvels.

“Paul loved being an educator and he loved to learn,” Mary describes. “He received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Kent State University and completed 38 hours toward a doctorate, attending Case Western Reserve, Ohio State, and Bowling Green Universities. “

A chemistry teacher at Lehman High School for 26 years, Paul was passionate about teaching and helping others.

“Paul really enjoyed helping people especially his students at Lehman. He was a volunteer tutor who began with just one student. After a while, Paul was tutoring 30 students who were having trouble with college-level chemistry. During Paul’s illness when he was hospitalized at Aultman or Mercy, invariably, some of his former tutored students – now successful nurses – would pop into his room and ask, ‘Do you remember me, Mr. Sell?’ This gave Paul great satisfaction,” Mary says.

Mary received her B.S. degree in education from Kent State. She taught grades 3-5 and retired from Louisville City Schools after 21 years in the classroom.

“I started college from scratch when my youngest was three years old – it took me 7 years,” Mary recalls. “Many nights, Paul helped me with my algebra. When I received and ‘A’ on an exam, I would tell Paul how proud I was of both of us.”

Included in the Sell family are their four children: Connie, a teacher; Paula, a certified registered nurse anesthetist; Wesley, a business owner; and Darlene, a metallurgist; their spouses, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Granddaughters Meredith and Leah attended Malone for general education courses and post-secondary work, respectively.

In 1987, Paul and Mary began enjoying a well-deserved retirement, and especially loved to travel. “We visited all 50 states, Canada, and Europe – and had so much fun,” Mary says. Since 1995, the Sells had wintered in Avon Park, Florida.

Mary describes Paul’s relationship with the Lord as one of closeness and of service. “Paul would spend hours studying and reading the Gospels. He went through the Bible with the late Hiram Bridenstine.

“He and Hiram were good buddies,” Mary continues, “and Paul was with him the day before Hiram died. If anyone needed help, Paul would help them. He had a heart of gold.”

Today, Mary continues a joyful commitment of giving to Christian education, missions, and ministries that she and Paul began early in their marriage.

“God has been good and we have enjoyed supporting six missionaries this past year,” Mary rejoices. The Sells first began giving charitably to Malone through the Robert Hess Scholarship. Robert was their substitute Bible teacher for many years. “We enjoyed him so much and we strongly believe in the Christian education mission of Malone, and continue to give to the college though the Annual Fund.”

“When Paul would send a gift contribution to our Annual Fund, he would always enclose a letter to me about how pleased he was with Malone,” adds Malone President Ron Johnson. “I miss hearing from Paul; it greatly encouraged me.”

The Sells also established a planned gift for Malone, through the inspiration of Paul’s first cousin, Ethel Romy, a retired Canton City Schools teacher. Paul set up a charitable gift annuity with Malone for Mary.

“The charitable gift annuity is wonderful because not only do Malone students benefit,” Mary explains, “but there is extra income coming to you each quarter. When Paul retired, he chose not to take his full retirement so that, in the event I survived him, there would be increased income for me. I had no idea until after his death, how much he had sacrificially provided for my future. I do miss his wise decisions, but Paul put everything in order for me.”

And, she added, that Paul planned his entire funeral service, including the songs, scripture, and speakers.

“It gave us great comfort, knowing we were carrying out Paul’s plan,” Mary says.

Contributing to Malone - John D. McGinnis

In both his professional and personal life, good friend of Malone University, John D. McGinnis, has encountered camaraderie of the closest kind – especially the camaraderie he experienced with firefighting colleagues in his Cleveland hometown. “When you spend 24 hours a day with other firemen, you have to rely on each other. Not only did I form deep and lasting friendships, but a number of my fellow firefighters were excellent Christian role models.” Before becoming a firefighter, John worked in sales at Sears and served in the U.S. Navy.

John was also blessed with rich Christian camaraderie as a member of west Park Friends Church. “My pastors and Sunday School teachers at West Park were especially influential in my spiritual life, including Earl Smith ’36, Mark Engel ’78, and Chris Jackson ’80,” John says. He adds that he feels privileged to have served as deacon and usher at West Park Friends beginning in 1969, ministering in the areas of the church’s building and grounds, and working in the Friends Disaster Service.

After 26 years of firefighting, John retired, and with wife Jane, relocated to Florida. “Jane was the best wife God could have given me; she was instrumental in bringing me to the Lord. Jane’s uncle and aunt, John and Mary Aufrance, were a great inspiration to me too,” John recalls.

Before leaving Ohio, Jane, a Republican Club member, was asked to run for Cleveland City Council. “In addition to all her campaigning duties,” John says proudly, “Jane kept up with the cooking and taking care of our five kids: Lucinda, Jane, Debby, Patty, Maureen, and John. I giver all the credit; se juggled it all while I worked.”

Daughter Patty went home to meet the Lord in 1998, and wife Jane’s heavenly home going was on July 4, 1986. “After my wife and daughter passed away, I was encouraged reading Scripture found in John 11:25-26: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (NIV)

It was through friendship with the Everett Cattells and attending Yearly Meetings that John had learned more about Malone University. “I became aware that Malone could use my financial support. Malone had started as a Bible college in Cleveland, and I believe strongly in supporting the mission of Christian education.” Providentially, Mrs. Cattell and Mrs. Mcginnis passed away within a day of one another, July 3rd and July 4th, respectively.

As part of his retirement and estate planning, John established a charitable gift annuity with Malone. “It is so important to plan your estate,” John says.

These days, you will find John actively engaged in walking, swimming, and riding his Honda motorcycle – a hobby he has enjoyed for 37 years. “I didn’t start riding until I was 41 years old,” John says, “and praise the Lord, I am still able to ride my motorcycle safely!”

Former President Ron Johnson was extremely grateful for John’s continued involvement in Malone University. “It is such an encouragement that John has supported the college for so many years, through annual giving, and more recently, with a planned gift,” he said. “I praise God for faithful givers such as john who can truly live Christ’s Kingdom First.”