“Tufts had a significant impact on my career. I attribute much of my leadership development and success as an environmental engineer and executive to the academic preparation and life experiences I received at Tufts. I have great admiration for the School of Engineering—it has identified as a focus and excels in preparing successful engineering leaders. Serving on the Board of Overseers has been very satisfying. I especially enjoy helping the younger folks advance their careers.”

In addition to supporting the Tufts Fund annually, Jonathan Curtis, E69, EG72, AG05P, has focused on financial aid priorities, including the Earle F. Littleton Scholarship, so that current engineering students may have the same positive experiences that he had. During his undergraduate years at Tufts, Jonathan was president of Zeta Psi fraternity, worked as a teaching assistant, and lettered in varsity sailing. He recently established a graduate fellowship in civil and environmental engineering and has decided to add to it through a charitable trust, which will provide additional funds for Tufts students. Jonathan and his wife, Sandy, have known each other since the fifth grade in Marblehead, Mass. They now live in Reston, Va., and look forward to cruising in their sailboat, Dream Weaver next summer.

“My years at Fletcher were a time of tremendous growth—personally and intellectually. My experiences there opened new options for me that I otherwise would never have even been aware of. The atmosphere and culture of a school is what sets it apart; Fletcher was a great fit for me. As the world gets smaller and we are all increasingly interconnected, the breadth of a Fletcher education is more relevant and more important than ever.”

Mark Baker, F95, received a full scholarship during his second year in The Fletcher School’s Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) program. He has included Fletcher in his will in order to help future students benefit from the value of a Fletcher education. Baker says that his Fletcher experience laid the groundwork for his career in international trade; he falls back on those building blocks even today and hopes to provide that same opportunity for others.

“I look at this scholarship as my way of giving back to Tufts because the only way I could attend Tufts was on scholarship myself. Thankfully others before me made that possible. As the university grows, and the student body continues to diversify, more students need help. This scholarship is a way I can pay back and pay it forward at the same time.

Alison (Sunny) Moran Breed, J66, G72, has maintained close ties to Tufts for more than four decades. After graduating in 1966, she worked for 13 years in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She has been a member of the Alumni Council since 1972. From 2006-2008, Sunny served as president of the Tufts University Alumni Association. Sunny has created the Ringer-Breed Endowed Scholarship for undergraduate students by naming Tufts in her will and making the university a beneficiary of her life insurance policy. She is a third-generation graduate whose grandfather, Wilfred Ringer, A1908, H38, was a professor in the Tufts education department. Her mother, Beth Ringer Moran, J32, three uncles, an aunt, and two cousins are also Tufts alumni.

“Three generations of my family have attended a Tufts school. My father (David L. Milliken, M.D., M26) was born in Europe; he was so grateful for the opportunity to attend medical school at Tufts. I also received a wonderful education from Tufts – both on the Hill and at the medical school. My niece, Rachel Milliken-Weitzman, J86, is a Jackson graduate. We are looking forward to another generation attending Tufts.”

Ralph A. Milliken, M.D., A62, M64, is president and CEO of the Tony Riso Company. After retiring from his career as an anesthesiologist, Dr. Milliken “reinvented” himself when he purchased the Tony Riso Company, which manufactures and services ultrasonic dental and veterinary equipment. Dr. Milliken named the Hirsh Health Sciences Library as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. His company also donates its services to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He and his wife Maxine reside in Florida. They enjoy visiting their five children and six grandchildren around the country.

“When I was a student, I co-founded with some classmates the Tufts Alliance of Gays, the first group of its kind at the dental school. In honor of that group of students, Dennis and I included a bequest intention in our estate plans that will establish an endowed scholarship to support gay and lesbian students at the dental school.”

Michael Suddath (left), D.M.D., D85, and Dennis Bourgault, Esq., F88, in 1994 opened Chateau-Animaux—an upscale pet-supply store located on Washington, D.C.’s historic Barracks Row. Dennis left his law firm to concentrate on developing the business and in 2005 Mike retired from his dental practice. Chateau-Animaux was named 2008–2009 Retailer of the Year by Pet Product News International. Mike and Dennis were photographed on their 18th anniversary.

“Mildred Burrows was a woman way ahead of her time,” says longtime friend and adviser Jan Miller of Caldwell Trust Company. “She was a voracious reader and was especially interested in health and nutrition. She always shared copies of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter with friends in her Florida retirement community. Her greatest complaint was always the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in the dining room.”

Ms. Burrows bequeathed approximately 20 percent of her estate to support the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Her generosity will leave a lasting legacy by helping to further the school’s mission. For more information about including a bequest for the Friedman School in your will, please contact the Gift Planning Office.

“Every time we attend a Cummings event, we are always so impressed and inspired by the diversity of the students and their stories. We have two children, but animals are a part of our family, too. Our dogs truly enriched our lives, and we wanted to do something to honor them as well. We’d like to think that our philanthropy has been instilled in our children. We believe in the greater good; the education of one veterinarian positively impacts thousands of animals.”

Michael and Robin Hession of Middleborough, Mass., first came to the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals about 10 years ago with a rescue dog that needed treatment for behavior problems. Robin says she finds the Grafton campus “a welcoming place” and has returned for Open House every September. Three years ago, the Hessions began supporting current veterinary students with generous annual gifts designated for scholarships. In addition, they have included a bequest intention for the Cummings School in their estate plans. The Hessions’ thoughtfulness and generosity will leave a lasting legacy.