College inducts 14 new Parnassus members
The Parnassus Society – which recognizes individuals, families and foundations who have donated more than $1 million to Skidmore – now has nearly 100 members.
The College inducted 14 new members to the Parnassus Society at last month’s Friends of the Presidents Event in New York City, held at the TimesCenter.
President Philip A. Glotzbach inducts the newest members of the Parnassus
Society which recognizes lifetime giving of $1M or more to Skidmore College.
From left: Selma and Irving Harris, Parents ’76 and ’79;
Hadley Sillick Robertson ’60; Barbara McGrew Jenkel ’62 and husband Paul,
and Peg and Mike Valentine, Parents ’09.
Those inducted at last month’s event collectively have contributed more than $19 million
to the College, noted President Philip A. Glotzbach, “providing critical support
for projects ranging from the annual fund and scholarship to the Tang Museum and the
Valentine Boathouse.”
“These individuals have not let us settle but have encouraged us to make Skidmore
a place where creative thought is truly made material, and for that we are deeply
grateful,” Glotzbach continued. “Their vision and generosity have had a powerfully
positive and substantial impact on the quality of our students’ education.”
Following are brief profiles of the Society’s new members:
Frank and Barbara Underhill Collyer ’52. A physical education major at Skidmore, Barbara Collyer went on to earn a master’s
degree from Smith College before embarking on a distinguished career as an educator
at Cornell, Brown and the University of Texas. She has been a strong supporter of
the Skidmore crew team, to which she donated a shell in 1998 dubbed “B-52” in her
honor. (Her husband, Frank, is also a longtime supporter of crew at his alma mater,
Cornell.) She established the Barbara Underhill Collyer ’52 Scholarship in 1998 and
recently endowed the position of vice president for advancement, which now carries
her name and signals her desire to encourage others to contribute as well. She was
awarded an Outstanding Service Award in 2002 and in 2009 was inducted into the Thoroughbred
Hall of Fame.
Shelby and Gale Davis, Davis United World College Scholars Program. Shelby and Gale Davis funded the establishment
of the Davis United World College Scholars Program in 2000, a network that Skidmore
joined in 2004. Since then, some 70 students from 39 countries have attended Skidmore
with support from the program, which is the world’s largest privately funded international
scholarship program for undergraduate education. These students have brought to Skidmore
their traditions, culture, and unique stories, which have prompted fellow students
to view the world in new ways. A Princeton graduate, Shelby Davis is the founder of
the investment management firm Davis Advisors. Gale Lansing Davis, a graduate of Briarcliff
College, is a former portfolio manager.
Jerome and Emily Farnsworth ’59. An English major at Skidmore, Emily Farnsworth became a great supporter of the College
after attending in 1997 a broad-ranging summer program that explored, among things,
Shakespeare, psychology and astrophysics. She taught English literature, drama, and
speech at Belmont High School in Massachusetts, and then became a librarian, earning
a master of library science degree from Simmons College. Her husband, Jerry, graduated
from Trinity College and earned an M.B.A. at Columbia University, which laid the foundation
for a long and successful career in accounting. Both have been dedicated supporters
of higher education, both at Skidmore and at his alma mater.
Irving and Selma Harris, Parents of Jonathan '76 and Lisa '79. Irving and Selma Harris became active members of the Skidmore community in 1970s
when their son, Jonathan Lindley Harris ’76, and daughter, Lisa Harris Hollister ’79,
enrolled. Irving served as a trustee from 1977 to 1990, and he was recognized in 1999
by his fellow trustees for his outstanding service with the Denis B. Kemball-Cook
Award. Both he and Selma served as members of the Palamountain Benefit Honorary Committee.
They have consistently supported the Palamountain Scholar Program and the Parents
Fund. After the untimely death of their son, they funded the Jonathan Lindley Harris
’76 Endowed Scholarship in 1999 and the same year named a reading room in the Lucy
Scribner Library in his honor. In 2008, they named the Harris Lobby in the Library.
Paul and Barbara McGrew Jenkel '62, Parents of Cyndi '91. Awarded the Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award in 1990, Barbara McGrew
Jenkel '62 has demonstrated a half-century commitment to Skidmore, serving as a class,
fundraising and admissions volunteer; on the Alumni Board; and as part of the leadership
for both the Wide Horizons and Celebration campaigns. She and her husband, Paul, who
has been an active partner in these activities, contributed recently to the Thomas
Endowed Fund for the Arthur Zankel Music Center in honor of Barbara’s close friend
and classmate, Suzanne Corbet Thomas ’62. For the last 17 years, she has been a full-time
volunteer at Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, located at the Children’s
Village, a residential treatment center for at-risk children. Paul is chairman of
the board of the Children’s Village.
Richard and Jean "Hadley" Sillick Robertson '60. The recipient in 2000 of an Outstanding Service Award and in 2010 of the 50th Reunion
Service Award, Hadley Robertson has been actively involved with Skidmore as a class
leader, Reunion planning volunteer, Alumni Awards Committee member, and Journey campaign
committee member. A math major at Skidmore who went on to study painting and drawing
at Parsons School of Design, she had a long and successful career with Recycled Paper
Greetings, ultimately providing more than 2,000 designs before retiring in 2005. She
and her husband, Dick, have supported the College in a number of ways, from the Annual
Fund to the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, as well as financial
aid, where they have created the Richard and Hadley Sillick Robertson ’60 Scholarship,
Michael and Margaret Valentine, Parents of Martha '09. Michael and Margaret Valentine's support of Skidmore grew out of the experience of
their daughter, Martha, class of 2009, who developed a passion for rowing while at
Skidmore and earned a seat on the varsity women's eight, which took fourth place in
the New York State championships her senior year. That passion inspired her family
to step forward with a lead gift to launch the fundraising efforts for the project
now known as the Valentine Boathouse. In supporting this effort, the Valentine family
continues the commitment to higher education that began at the University of Cincinnati,
their alma mater, where Peg is currently a co-chair of UC's fundraising campaign.
Martha is currently using her skills as a graphic designer at Valentine Research,
the company her parents founded, a continues to pursue her passion for rowing as the
women’s novice rowing coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Posted On: 12/18/12