Boosted by major gifts from two great friends of Princeton, funds realized by the University during the Aspire campaign from trusts and estates passed the $100 million mark this summer. This important milestone represents 814 gifts from 785 Princetonians. Of these gifts, more than $20 million came to Princeton through bequests in the last year. Written into estate plans years or even decades ago, such gifts affect all aspects of teaching, research, and campus life at Princeton today.

Bequests from two women, Emily V. Smyth W16 *17 and Sarah A. (Lala) Eisenhart W42, provided a total of almost $10 million to support endowed professorships, a preceptorship, and other priorities. Both made gifts to Princeton through their wills, as well as through charitable trusts that made payments back to them during their lifetimes. 

Emily V. Smyth was the widow of Princeton chemistry professor Charles P. Smyth ’16*17. Professor Smyth retired in 1963 as the David B. Jones Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, after teaching at Princeton for 43 years. Emily established a professorship in her husband’s name. Lala Eisenhart was the wife of Edward C. Eisenhart ’42, who was a former chair of Annual Giving and the nephew of Luther P. Eisenhart, former dean of the Graduate School. During his lifetime, Ed created a trust that benefited Lala and also donated funds to establish the Class of 1942 University Preceptorship in History. The preceptorship fund was enhanced through the generous provisions of Lala’s will.

The gifts from Emily Smyth and Lala Eisenhart are two of many planned gifts—large and small—that  will make a difference at Princeton in the years to come. They are a testament to the deep loyalty and far-reaching generosity of a past generation of Princetonians and their families.

Related story: The Eisenharts and Princeton: A Century of Family Connections

October 2009