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Bluffton University and MMH to share $1 million
Former Bluffton residents, James and Frieda Basinger left their estate, estimated to be valued at $1 million, to Bluffton University and Mennonite Home Communities. A joint press conference was held Tuesday, February 9, to announce the donation.
“On behalf of the university and especially our students, I am grateful for the wonderful generosity of two Bluffton alumni and former residents of our local community,” said Dr. James Harder, Bluffton University President. “We look forward to honoring the Basinger’s wish to provide enhanced support for student scholarships for current and future generations of Bluffton students. This legacy gift will make a difference in the Bluffton community for many years to come.”
James and Frieda were both raised in Bluffton, graduated from Bluffton public schools and were members of the Bluffton University class of 1940. James was always very interested in flying and transferred his senior year to Parks College (Illinois), a school specializing in aeronautics. He and Frieda were married in 1940 and he spent time overseas in the service. He taught at Purdue University and then worked in the aeronautics industry in design and research in Los Angeles, California, before returning to teaching at a community college in Douglas, Arizona, for 17 years.
The couple lived in Bisbee, Arizona. James Basinger passed away in 2005. Frieda was a loving wife who enjoyed gardening and nature. She died September 21, 2009.
James and Frieda made what may have been their last visit to Bluffton in 1986 for their 50th high school class reunion. Joanne and the late Dean Niswander, Bluffton University Ambassadors, visited them in Arizona in 1996.
“We thought they were very interesting people,” said Joanne Niswander. “It was the first time we had ever met them, but we had a great conversation.”
Laura Voth, chief executive officer of Mennonite Home Communities, had been in contact with Frieda Basinger over the past few years.
“In her written correspondence over the past four years, Frieda talked about how many of our residents she knew being a hometown girl,” said Voth. “During her life and even after her death, she wanted to do what she could to make the lives of her friends here at Mennonite Home Communities more joyous.”
The donation to Mennonite Home Communities is the largest in their history and will be used to improve the quality of life for the residents.
“Our Fund Board will be meeting to finalize how this money will be used, but I’m sure we will use it to ‘make residents’ lives brighter’ as Frieda often said,” said Voth.
The gift made by James and Frieda Basinger is also one of the largest gifts ever made to Bluffton Univeristy. The University’s Board of Trustees will formally allocate the money, but President Harder said that the gift will have a lasting impact to the Bluffton community and students of the university.
“The Basingers lived most of their lives away from Bluffton, but recognized the value of their formative years here in Bluffton,” said Harder.
