True Loves
Bob Mann sits at the piano in his quiet living room, reverently pausing before he gently caresses the keys.
"Midge always loved the piano," he says. "I'm trying to learn, but she was the one who would fill the house with music...beautiful, classical music. The art on the walls? That's all her, too."
Chemistry of Love
Bob (BS'45) and Marjorie (BS'43) Mann had chemistry, and in more ways than one. As two young chemistry majors at IU Bloomington, they were fortunate to find each other early in life. Some people are lucky that way: For more than six decades they were soul mates. The constants in their life together were science, music, and art, along with their attachment to the Bloomington campus.
Midge worked at Eli Lilly and Company for two years while Bob served in the Army and then finished college. They spent their salad days in Minnesota as Bob earned his PhD in chemistry. Following graduate school, they returned to Indianapolis where Bob began a 34-year career at Lilly. He did well for himself.
Giving From the Heart
He and Midge always had three primary philanthropic interests: the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and IU Bloomington. Having already endowed three chairs in the IUB chemistry department, they could have turned their attention elsewhere. IU remained at the forefront, however, even after Midge passed away in 2004.
"I wanted to give enough money to do the most good," Bob states. "Swamy (Kumble Subbaswamy, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences) and I discussed what he thought The College needed most, and I agreed with him. That's why one-fifth went to scholarships, one-fifth went to graduate fellowships, and the lion's share, three-fifths, went to the new science building [Simon Hall]."
Matching Their Generosity
Then Swamy brought up the idea of matching funds. Through Matching the Promise, the University matches the income from an endowed gift. In this case, $50,000 annually for undergraduate scholarships becomes $100,000; likewise for the graduate fellowships. "I thought it was great," Bob recalls, "like doubling the money I had available to give. I mean, you can't take it with you."
Trust is the Key
The difference between Indiana University and many of the charities that solicit Bob is one of stewardship. He is pleased with the way IU has handled his gifts. He's impressed with the faculty chosen to hold the Robert and Marjorie Mann chairs. He's excited about helping students make it through school. And he's excited about a specially designed building that allows scientists from different disciplines to work together more effectively.
Indiana University and Bob Mann: There is chemistry in this relationship, too. Bob is a pragmatic person, however. The real decision, he observes, "is which assets you distribute where. Appreciated stock that risked large capital gains made sense as a gift to IU. There are other assets for my daughter and grandchildren. She's doing very well, also at Lilly, so you give to what makes sense.
"And of course, Indiana University is always at the top of the list."
