Irina and the late Leslie Cromwell | Donors
Investing in a tradition he helped create.
For more than half a century, Leslie Cromwell played an intricate role in creating and developing the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology.
For his first 30 years at Cal State L.A., the late Dr. Cromwell served as the both dean and professor for the top-ranked College. He remained committed to assisting the University in providing the best possible resources to educate students—donating his time, counsel and financial support when possible.
Dr. Cromwell began his career at Cal State L.A. (known then as Los Angeles State College) in 1953 as the first assistant professor in the Department of Engineering. He was later named dean for the (then) School of Engineering in 1973 and pioneered the tradition of student-centered learning.
“The early days were hard work and challenging,” he recalled, “but it was truly an exciting environment.” He retired as dean and professor in 1980.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, Dr. Cromwell and his wife, Irina, established a charitable gift annuity.
Before his 2010 passing, he recalled, “This was a win-win situation.” “We will assist students while receiving a substantial tax deduction and lifetime payments from the annuity.”
The couple enjoyed an active retirement: traveling, participating in theatre and musical production, and volunteering for local community organizations. Their ability to enjoy retirement and make a charitable contribution was the direct result of careful retirement planning.
“There is no better way to honor and maintain our tradition [of student-centered learning] than to give a gift that will benefit future generations of Cal State L.A. students,” Dr. Cromwell said.
You too, can invest in the future of the University and its students while receiving substantial tax benefits and payments for life.
Joseph A. Bailey II, M.D. | Donor
Leaving a legacy and making a difference.
Joseph A. Bailey II, M.D., understands the value of education and hard work. As a young man in the South, he worked four jobs to save for college. It is no surprise that Dr. Bailey has found a connection with Cal State L.A. and our students, most of whom work at least 30 hours weekly.
Early in his relationship with the University, Dr. Bailey established a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) with Cal State L.A. as a beneficiary. By using an appreciated asset to fund his CRUT, Dr. Bailey was able to make a significant gift to the University and reduce the tax liability to his estate, sheltering his family from an added tax burden. His CRUT also produces a guaranteed income for his lifetime.
In addition to making a planned gift, Dr. Bailey supports various programs at the University through current gifts. He created the Joseph A. Bailey II, M.D. endowed chair in American Communities Program, becoming the first African American to endow a chair in the California State University system.
Dr. Bailey practiced as an orthopaedic surgeon for more than 40 years, publishing papers in medical journals and developing six inventions and a patent. One publication, “Disproportionate Short Stature, Diagnosis, and Management,” changed world literature on dwarfism.
Now retired, Dr. Bailey writes a weekly news column and self-help books for urban youths. With a philosophy to help those in need, he remains true to this ideal in every endeavor.
Ann and Al Jicha | Donors
‘Audacity’ and ‘Need’ Inspire Couple to Financially Support CSULA.
Al and Ann Jicha know firsthand that “education is the road to a successful, fruitful life.”
For this reason, as well as the inspiration provided by a former dean, the couple established the Al and Ann Jicha Endowed Scholarship Fund at Cal State L.A.—though neither are alumni.
It was in 1985 that Al, who spent more than 38 years working for Hughes Aircraft Co., joined the Industry Advisory Board of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at Cal State L.A.
“The most memorable aspect of my board service was meeting and working with Dean Ray Landis,” Al said. “One of the outstanding features of the College is the ‘audacity factor’ that’s still alive and well. Dr. Landis took considered risks to enhance the reputation of Cal State L.A.”
Al and Ann make annual contributions to the scholarship fund. They have even made a direct contribution from their IRA—allowing them to meet their required minimum distribution by donating IRA funds on a “rollover” basis directly to their scholarship fund. Although such contributions are not counted as an outright charitable donation, it significantly reduces their income tax implications.
“Though we’re not alumni,” Ann says, “our major contributions are to Cal State L.A. because we perceive the needs of its students to be great. Helping Cal State L.A. students makes us feel good about our giving.”
Bob Reeser | Donor
Free as a bird—an active retirement and giving back.
When he retired as associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Cal State L.A. after 23 years, Bob Reeser moved to Nipomo, CA, where he and his partner tend to scores of exotic birds on their breeding farm. This was the retirement he had always wanted.
When considering his retirement options, Bob wanted to stay active, live in a nice area and develop his passion for exotic birds. He also wanted to provide support for student scholarships at Cal State L.A. What he didn’t want was the 2 a.m. phone calls from tenants at his Santa Cruz rental house complaining that “the water heater had gone out.”
With the guidance of his financial advisor and Cal State L.A.’s estate planning specialist, Bob established a charitable remainder trust, which now pays him a guaranteed income for life.
This is how he did it. First, Bob transferred the property’s title to the charitable remainder trust. The trust (a tax-free entity) then sold the house and invested the proceeds to produce a lifetime income for Bob. Because the remainder value of the trust will go to benefit the Robert Reeser Endowed Scholarship Fund at Cal State L.A., Bob avoided paying capital gains tax, received a charitable tax deduction and increased his income for life.
With the additional income, Bob purchased life insurance to benefit his heirs. He has no regrets about putting his property in trust for student scholarships. Now, he lives a life of his choosing in his bucolic aviary, not far from the butterfly trees and “singing sand dunes” of Pismo Beach. He also has time to carry on his love of education through writing, and he hopes his scholarship recipients will one day read his articles on the web.
Shirley and Gary Best ’61, MA ’65 | Donors
In support of the ‘Best’ teachers.
Helping others achieve their full potential is what motivates Gary Best ’61, MA ’65. In fact, that’s the very reason he became an educator.
After more than 30 years at Cal State L.A. as a student, faculty member and administrator in the University’s Charter College of Education, Gary joined the California State University Chancellor’s Office to advance statewide teacher education efforts. While he now works in Long Beach, his feelings for Cal State L.A. remain as strong as ever. His dedication to teaching is such that even his fellow youth counselors from the 1950s still fondly recall stories of him going the extra mile to help children with special needs.
Still striving to do everything he can in support of education, Gary and his wife, Shirley, recently established the Best Family Endowment for the Division of Special Education in the Charter College of Education. This generous bequest is designed to fund special operation needs.
Having had decades of firsthand involvement with the Charter College, Gary and Shirley decided they could make the most difference by entrusting the College leadership to direct funds to the area of greatest need.
Through their bequest, the Bests were able to make a significant gift that will help children in perpetuity, and they did so without diminishing their nest egg… the “best” of all possible worlds.
