Donor Stories

Once upon a time, there were two country kids named Jack and Joy. The grew up in a dairy-farm town in Pennsylvania and met each other through their Church of the Brethren community. Jack fed and herd cattle and worked in the coal mines.

For Lucile Cayford Leard ’59, the University of La Verne runs in the family. Her older brothers Afton Cayford ’51 and Elvis Cayford ’54 also attended the university, as well as her children Linda Leard Kimble ’87, MA ’93, EdD ’99, Rodney Leard ’85, and Jeffrey Leard ’95; niece Cheryl Brumbaugh Cayford ’85; and nephew Steven Cayford ’90.

Bruce Warner ’62 and Stan Notkin have been together for almost 45 years. Married in 2008 when same-sex marriage first became legal in California, they are a true example of a diverse household.

When Mary Ann Harvey-Melleby ’79, MS ’91 arrived at the University of La Verne as a founding student of the Campus Accelerated Program for Adults (CAPA), she was “scared to death” she would not be able to succeed in college.

The Leo community is accustomed to seeing Bob Dyer ’63 and Sue Dyer ’64 around campus. The Dyers have attended every Homecoming and Family Weekend since they graduated and are frequently seen at other university events.

For both Dee Giannamore and her son Joe Fengler ’89, higher education was the key to the lives they wanted to lead. Dee was a single parent who put herself through college while raising her son.

Mary Kay Ogden ’68, MA ’73, is leaving a legacy that ensures that her life-changing work as an educator will go on in perpetuity.

With the income from the ownership of multiple apartment units, Toni and Oscar Sanchez were doing just fine, financially. Then, Oscar contracted pancreatic cancer, and he was given less than a year to live. 

Blessed and thankful. That is how Jerry Davis sums up his long and full life filled with faith, family, work, and service.