Donna Merrill and Sam Stout’s Bequest Helps Fund Class of ’68 Scholarship

Donna Merrill and Sam Stout, both ’68, met at Lake Forest College and have maintained lifelong friendships in a class that is so tight it is jokingly referred to as a “cult.” They made a “virtual endowment” gift for their 50th reunion—giving back with annual donations to the Class of ’68 scholarship that they will further fund with a bequest, eventually totaling $50,000.

“Our class left the College faced with Vietnam and the uncertainty of what was going on in the world, and that brought us all together,” Sam says. “We have the biggest reunions and we have raised tons of money.”

The Stouts, both retired, married at the age of 23 and have been making annual donations ever since—for 50 years! They also attend most of their reunions. They live in Hartford, Connecticut, and have three adult children and seven grandchildren.

Donna majored in psychology and was president of the Chi Omega Chi sorority. She worked in development with different institutions and is currently very involved with the Garden Club of America and a number of other local garden clubs. Sam majored in English literature, played soccer, and was the president of his Delta Chi fraternity. He became a general contractor, building homes in Colorado and then restaurants on the East Coast.

Dave Wilber, Senior Director of Gift Planning who is also from the class of ’68, helped them design their gift. The Stouts say they enjoy hearing from the class of ’68 scholarship recipients. The class gives so much, Donna says, because it is “full of very bright people who all received an excellent education and feel an affinity for the College.”