Gates Volunteer Service Award (GVSA) past recipients

2022 — Joanne Montgomery

Shaping the future of nursing

Joanne Montgomery, recipient of the 2022 Gates Volunteer Service Award, spent two decades as a nurse — and two more ensuring that the UW is at the forefront of the field.

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2021 — Stan Barer

A global vision

Stan Barer, ’63, recipient of the 2021 Gates Volunteer Service Award, used his UW Law degree to help make the world a better place. For more than 50 years, he’s been doing the same at the University.

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2019 — Lex Gamble

Coast-to-coast Husky

Lex Gamble, recipient of the 2019 Gates Volunteer Service Award, has been a dedicated Husky and UW leader for nearly 60 years — on campus and from across the country.

Lex, ’59, and Diane Gamble, ’59, may have moved all the way across the country, but they quickly formed a close circle of friends who were also UW alumni. And before long, that circle began to grow.

Lex and Diane had met as UW undergraduates, married a week after graduation and moved to the Northeast. After Lex earned his MBA at Harvard, the pair began their careers in New York — but they didn’t forget their UW roots.

It began with a dinner. “Someone said, ‘What do you miss most about the Pacific Northwest, other than actually being there?’” Lex recalls. “We agreed it was the salmon.” And not just any salmon — it had to be Pacific salmon, flown in from Pike Place Market, 2,400 miles away.

Thanks to dry ice and cooperative fishmongers, they were soon enjoying authentic Pacific salmon at their Chappaqua home among a small contingent of Huskies. But something was still missing. “Maybe we could get some more Huskies out here,” someone suggested. So, says Lex, they got in touch with the University to invite alumni in the region to their summer gatherings: “People came from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Vermont. Out of the woods.”

The annual New York Salmon BBQ would become a UW tradition on the East Coast, enduring for more than 40 years at their home (and still going strong at the Greenwich home of Susan Bevan, ’76). But the Gambles’ connection to the University didn’t stop there. Their generous philanthropy, Lex’s leadership on the UW Foundation and Foster School Advisory boards, and his passion for forging strong alumni networks have created a UW legacy that’s hard to top. Although Diane passed away in 2011, Lex continues to build on the important work they began together.

In recognition of Lex’s ongoing impact, the UW Foundation has honored him with the 2019 Gates Volunteer Service Award (GVSA). Presented annually, the GVSA celebrates those who shape the University’s trajectory with their philanthropy and service — and who encourage others to do the same.

Husky roots

Raised in Spokane, Lex was surrounded by Husky spirit: His father and many other relatives attended the UW. So when it came time to apply to schools, he says, “I only applied to the UW, of course. I bleed purple.”

Through his years in Phi Delta Theta and on the UW crew team, Lex built a network of lifelong friends. He also developed his leadership skills as president of the ASUW, where he met Diane, who was second vice president.

On the move

Though Lex attended graduate school on the East Coast, he was still a Husky at heart. “I like to tell people I got my degree from Harvard, but I got my education at the UW,” he says.

In 2005 Lex used his industry and UW connections to help launch Dawgs on Wall Street (DOWS), which brings high-caliber speakers to a UW alumni audience in New York City. Speakers have included Bill Gates Sr., ’49, ’50; former Starbucks CEO Orin Smith, ’65; Costco co-founder Jeff Brotman, ’64, ’67; and former Secretary of the Interior and REI CEO Sally Jewell, ’78.

“Lex helped build something that would last,” Foster School Dean Jim Jiambalvo says. “He inspired and fostered the next generation of Wall Street volunteer leaders.”

Returning to the UW

For more than 20 years, Lex has returned to Seattle frequently for his work on the UW Foundation Board and the Foster School Advisory Board; he chaired the latter during the University’s last fundraising campaign, helping secure support for leading-edge facilities at the business school. Longtime friend and UW volunteer Artie Buerk, ’58, calls Lex “the glue” that keeps people connected to the University from far and wide.

Lex’s visionary volunteerism was matched by his and Diane’s inspiring philanthropy. They contributed generously to the new Foster School facilities, UW Rowing, UW Medicine and much more. They also co-chaired multiple reunion gift committees for the Class of 1959, endowing a landscape architecture scholarship and a fund to ensure the enduring health of the Quad’s iconic cherry trees. Jiambalvo calls the latter the perfect metaphor for the seeds the Gambles’ philanthropy has sown — bringing beauty and joy to the UW for generations to come.

Transitions

Diane passed away in 2011 after a battle with cancer. In more than 50 years together, she and Lex had created a legacy of fellowship, leadership and philanthropy from across the country. In Diane’s honor, several DOWS hosts funded a memorial bench in her name in the Quad, under the cherry trees she loved.

In 2014, Lex married Ann Marie Vernes, who’d been Diane’s bridge partner and longtime close friend. It wasn’t long before Ann Marie adopted the purple and gold. Lex boasts, “Ann Marie is now one of the most dedicated Huskies that I know.”

Purple pride

Lex steps down from the UW Foundation Board this month, but he remains connected to Huskies near and far: He continues his work on the Foster School Advisory Board, and he’s a regular at DOWS events and New York Salmon BBQs (which have inspired similar regional events across the country). And he and Ann Marie fly to Palm Springs every March for the UW Alumni Association’s Dawg Days in the Desert.

For nearly 60 years, Lex has helped shape the UW’s story. For even longer, the UW has been an integral part of his own.

Says Jiambalvo, “Purple pride travels with him wherever he goes.”

2018 — Jan and Neal Dempsey

Jan and Neal Dempsey, recipients of the 2018 Gates Volunteer Service Award, have supported the UW generously for more than 40 years.

When Neal Dempsey, ’64, gave the 2013 commencement address at the Foster School of Business, he donned the customary cap and gown — and boxing gloves.

“The real world is brutal!” he said, punching a cardboard cutout also draped in a cap and gown. “It’s tough. It’s aggressive. It’s competitive. And you might not like it. You’ve got to be ready!”

Neal’s speech was packed with anecdotes illustrating the principles that have long guided him and Jan, his wife of more than five decades: Accept failure, embrace change and give back.

Making a difference

Early in his career, Neal learned those first two principles the hard way, as CEO of two companies that went out of business. After picking up the pieces, reexamining his goals and starting over, he found his calling as a venture capitalist in the Bay Area, where he has flourished. But he didn’t forget to give back.

For decades, Neal and Jan have made a profound difference at the University of Washington through their philanthropy. Their transformative giving took the Foster School and UW Athletics to new heights, from the cutting-edge facilities they helped build to the world-class professors, coaches and students they helped attract. By serving on numerous boards and committees and teaching a course at the Foster School, Neal also offered his alma mater the gifts of time, vision, leadership and inspiration.

In recognition of the Dempseys’ impact, the UW Foundation has honored them with the 2018 Gates Volunteer Service Award (GVSA). Presented annually, the GVSA celebrates those who shape the University’s trajectory with their philanthropy and service — and who encourage others to do the same.

Boundless energy

“I guess it started in the late ’80s, when I got a letter from Nancy Jacob” — then dean of the Foster School — “asking me to join the advisory board,” Neal says. With the characteristic energy that has helped him complete more than 100 marathons, climb mountains and sail around the world, he dove into philanthropic service.

Neal’s athletic pursuits inspire and inform his professional and philanthropic life, says Jan. They help him recharge and drive him forward. “He returns renewed and with new ideas,” she says, “and he moves on with his typical energy, enthusiasm and optimism.”

Since receiving Dean Jacob’s letter, Neal has brought those defining traits to the UW, serving on boards and committees in the Foster School (including three decades on its advisory board) and on the UW Foundation Board of Directors; offering his expertise and mentorship to UW Athletics; taking on important roles in two University campaigns; and providing valuable guidance in dean and president searches.

Transformative gifts

Neal’s leadership is matched by his and Jan’s generosity. Their support created the Dempsey Indoor Practice Facility, giving student-athletes in football, softball, baseball and soccer a place to train indoors — and a home for Husky Track and Field to compete. The Dempseys bolstered the men’s and women’s crew teams with their role in renovating the Conibear Shellhouse, and they brightened fall Saturdays for thousands of fans with their crucial contributions to the renovation of Husky Stadium.

At the Foster School, the Dempseys’ philanthropy was essential to the construction of PACCAR and Dempsey halls, the heart of the business school. Drawing inspiration from his startup roots, Neal was a champion and co-founder of what would become the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.

“We built this school to be a real winner, a big program,” says Neal of the Foster School. He’s also thrilled by the UW’s excellence in athletics (anyone who’s been to a game with him will tell you he’s an animated fan), but he and Jan are the most motivated by the people whose lives they’re impacting.

Through scholarships in football, tennis and golf, the Dempseys help student-athletes succeed both inside and outside the classroom. At the Foster School, they have created a fellowship for MBA students and an undergraduate scholarship in entrepreneurship and innovation, and they have endowed positions that help the UW recruit and retain top faculty.

“The support we give professors helps them do more research and advance their careers — those who get support are very deserving, and the same goes for the students,” says Neal, who lights up remembering the many students he’s counseled and mentored.

Go get ’em

Recently he co-taught a class on CEO and board leadership for the Foster School’s MBA program, traveling from San Francisco to the UW every week during spring quarter.

“It was exhausting but rewarding,” Neal says. He managed to juggle the class, his full-time job and a commencement speech for the Master of Science in Information Science program.

“I’m right here,” he says, holding his hand up to just below his eyes to indicate how busy he is. “But I’m OK with it. That’s who I am.”

“When he was young, Neal was shy,” says Jan. “He joined Toastmasters to confront his fear of public speaking. Well, look at him now!”

At the end of Neal’s boxing-inspired address in 2013, he gave the graduates a directive: “Keep fighting for yourself, for your family, for your career, for your community and for your world. We’ll all be cheering you on. We’re your biggest fans. Go get ’em!”

2017 — Ron and Wanda Crockett

Building the future

Sixty years ago, Ron Crockett received a scholarship that changed his life. Now he and his wife, Wanda, have been honored with the Gates Volunteer Service Award for their commitment to changing the lives of others.

Ron Crockett carries a letter in his briefcase wherever he goes. Dated May 28, 1957, it came from James G. McCurdy, informing Ron that he had received a scholarship to attend the University of Washington.

For the son of a mechanic and a riveter in Renton, the Thomas W. McCurdy Memorial Scholarship was an essential link to higher education. Ron recalls going to Jim McCurdy’s office on Harbor Island after receiving the scholarship, which was named for McCurdy’s late brother.

“He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Whenever you get, give back,’” says Ron, who took this advice to heart — and continues to do so six decades later.

Ron later found in his wife, Wanda, a partner who shares his love for transformation, whether it’s through growing businesses or cheering on their growing grandchildren. Together, they’ve also focused their generosity on creating positive change at the UW, which they’ve elevated through support for athletics, engineering, business and beyond.

In recognition of the indelible mark the Crocketts have left on the University, the UW Foundation has honored them with the 2017 Gates Volunteer Service Award (GVSA). Presented annually, the GVSA recognizes individuals who give generously through both philanthropy and service, not only shaping the trajectory of the UW but also encouraging others to do the same.

Growing businesses

With the help of the McCurdy Scholarship, Ron earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1961 and began working at Boeing. Wanda, who moved to Seattle from Othello, Washington, in the late ’60s, joined the company soon after. It wasn’t long before Ron had an idea for a new business — and he invited Wanda to join him.

Along with her and three new hires, Ron established the commercial aircraft overhaul facility Air Repair, later named Tramco, in 1970. It eventually grew to 2,500 employees, and when Ron sold it to BFGoodrich in 1988, it was the largest company of its kind in the country.

But true to their nature, the Crocketts kept on building. After launching several more businesses, the couple followed a lifelong passion of Ron’s: They brought live horse racing back to western Washington, opening Emerald Downs in 1996.

Changing lives

All along the way, the Crocketts heeded Jim McCurdy’s words by giving back — from funding brain tumor research at Seattle Children’s to fostering facilities, programs, scholarships and more across the UW.

Renovations of Husky Stadium, Hec Edmundson Pavilion, the Conibear Shellhouse and the Dempsey Indoor Practice Facility bear the stamp of the Crocketts’ support. So do the many student-athletes who train, practice, play and study in those spaces with the help of athletic scholarships the Crocketts have established.

In addition to supporting UW Athletics, the Crocketts have bolstered students and professors in business and engineering. Their generosity also extends to underserved communities in Seattle, making it possible for many local students to attend the UW. Shamey Kassim, a sophomore whose parents fled war-torn Somalia, is one of them. With a scholarship from the Crocketts, she is pursuing her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse. A letter she wrote to the couple echoes Ron’s relationship with Jim McCurdy: “I’ll do everything in my power to succeed and to make you proud.”

While Ron and Wanda hesitate to say which of their philanthropic efforts is most meaningful to them, they never lose sight of each individual they’re helping. “Scholarships would be right up there,” says Wanda, “and making sure students’ needs are met.”

The Crocketts’ philanthropy extends well beyond scholarships to true mentorship. In their GVSA nomination letter, Athletic Director Jen Cohen wrote: “Whether it is advice on course selection, career options or money management, Ron has spent countless hours supporting our current and former student-athletes.”

Among the many talented recipients of Ron’s guidance is former UW men’s basketball standout Quincy Pondexter, ’10. In a letter of thanks, Pondexter fondly recalled Ron’s unyielding focus on succeeding in school.

“I remember after some of my biggest games as a Husky, he would call and ask what my score was on a sociology assignment or test,” wrote Pondexter. “Basketball is only for a short time in my life. With the great guidance of Mr. Crockett, I’m so grateful to know I have the ability to be successful when the ball stops bouncing for me.”

Paying it forward

The Crocketts continue to envision a bright future at the UW. Through their ongoing support, Ron’s service as past chair of the UW Foundation Board and as a member of the Tyee Club Executive Committee, and the couple’s deep belief in the power of education to change lives, they are making that vision a reality.

As a legacy of the one scholarship Ron received 60 years ago, he and Wanda have bestowed 277 scholarships so far — and their influence keeps growing exponentially. Together they are creating driven, successful graduates who will pay their generosity forward.

In 2003, Ron sent a copy of Jim McCurdy’s scholarship letter back to its author, hoping to convey the extent of its impact. McCurdy returned the letter with a note at the top: “Ron, this is the most worthy investment in mankind that I have ever made.”

A worthy investment indeed — one that continues to transform buildings, programs and, most important, the people they serve.

2016 — Maggie and Doug Walker

Two weeks after they got married in 1972, Maggie and Doug Walker packed up their car and drove from Greenville, South Carolina, to Seattle. They came for adventure and for school — Doug, for graduate studies in mathematics, and Maggie, for bachelors’ degrees in history and communication.

Their student days at the UW were the foundation of a decades-long history of generosity and leadership — a tradition of inspiration, collaboration and transformation across disciplines.

“Life is about the synergy of all things,” says Maggie. “The beauty of the UW is it’s all actually here.”

In recognition of the Walkers’ tremendous impact, the UW Foundation has honored them with the 2016 Gates Volunteer Service Award, given annually to individuals who demonstrate a deep commitment to the University through their long-term philanthropy and volunteer leadership.

True to Maggie’s broad range of interests, she has served on boards across the UW, and on committees for all the University’s major campaigns. She remains deeply involved with numerous schools and colleges, and as a director of the UW Foundation Board.

While Doug enjoyed a long, fruitful career at WRQ, a software firm he co-founded, he remained an ardent philanthropist and advocate for access to the outdoors and to education.

Tragically, Doug passed away at the beginning of this year. He was a veteran climber with countless summits under his belt. But although he stood atop many mountains, just as important to him were the people he took along with him.

Doug’s passion for helping others stretched beyond the trail and into the community, dovetailing with the drive and vision of Maggie. Together, they achieved some of their most impactful work at the University. From their creation of eight endowments in the College of Arts & Sciences to their instrumental leadership role in establishing the College of the Environment, they brought members of the UW community together — and raised it to new heights.

“There are so many different things that the University is in a position to provide,” says Maggie. “But the synergy between them is a very important part — not just the pieces.”

Watch the GVSA video

2015 — Jerry and Lyn Grinstein

Jerry and Lyn Grinstein, unwavering supporters of the University of Washington for decades, have attended countless graduation ceremonies, but Lyn says she gets a lump in her throat every time. “I think about what a transformational mission this is for so many individuals, but the bigger mission is not for the individual,” she says. “The bigger mission is what it does for the community.”

It is the University’s impact on the community that has inspired the Grinsteins to be such passionate advocates. In recognition of their deep and long-standing commitment to the University, the UW Foundation has honored them with the 2015 Gates Volunteer Service Award.

Jerry, whose remarkable career has spanned politics, law and business, has proved an invaluable UW leader in many capacities. A co-chair of the University’s first campaign and a former UW Regent, he has served — and continues to serve — on a host of UW boards and committees. He and Lyn both bring their passion and leadership to the UW Medicine Campaign Initiatives Committee. Lyn, a former chair and current director of the UW Foundation Board, also leads campaign fundraising efforts for the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, and she puts her love of the arts to work as a member of the Henry Art Gallery Advisory Council.

In her tenure as chair of the UW Foundation Board, Lyn created the Deep Dive program, which gives volunteer leaders the chance to experience the remarkable things that happen across the University every day.

“Don’t forget the development of these young minds that’s going on all around — you can’t walk through this campus without feeling it,” says Lyn. “Don’t forget the everyday magic.”

Watch the GVSA video

This video is a profile of the Grinsteins and highlights their many contributions over the years to the University of Washington.

2014 — Micki and Bob Flowers

“The UW launched us,” says Micki Flowers, ’73, who met her future husband, Bob, on campus. Her journalism career, which spanned 31 years at KIRO TV, began at The Daily. Bob, ’65, ’68, credits his long career at Washington Mutual to his studies in the Evans School of Public Affairs.

Grateful for the UW’s shaping influence in their lives, these Husky sweethearts have since transformed it through their long-term leadership and advocacy. In recognition of their profound impact, the UW Foundation has honored Micki and Bob with the 2014 Gates Volunteer Service Award.

The couple devotes tremendous time, talent and energy to programs ranging from Husky sports to the Department of Communication. Fervent champions of graduate education, they have established several fellowships, including an endowment for the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation.

“In all their efforts, Micki and Bob recognize the need for graduate fellowships that enhance diversity,” says Jerry Baldasty, senior vice provost for Academic and Student Affairs. “Because of them, the UW increasingly represents the changing nature of American life and culture.”

Micki and Bob were deeply influenced by their families, leaders and role models who put stock in actions rather than words. “You always get more back than you give,” says Micki. “We’re blessed to live in a community that appreciates volunteers, where people are willing to link arms with us.”

2013 — Jeff and Susan Brotman

Jeffrey, ’64, ’67, and Susan Brotman’s hard work on behalf of the University of Washington reflects a deeply personal commitment to helping Huskies.

Many nights, Susan burns the midnight oil reviewing reports or strategizing how to bring more volunteers on board at the UW, while Jeff does the same across the hall. Jeff and Susan have sacrificed things like television, socializing and sleep in favor of giving back.

They work hard to make the biggest impact on the community. And their commitment has transformed the University of Washington. Like the time Jeff, co-founder of Costco Wholesale, rallied the community, raising $1 billion as chair of UW Medicine’s portion of Campaign UW: Creating Futures. Or the leadership Susan brought as chair, vice-chair and director of the UW Foundation Board over her 20 years of service.

Their shared dedication to service was inherited from their parents. Growing up, both Jeff and Susan were raised with a deep sense of community spirit and sense of civic duty. Jeff’s folks helped out their Tacoma clothing store’s employees, covering their tuition in hard times. Susan’s mom and dad volunteered with the March of Dimes and their community church in Montana, supporting their small town with neighborly care.

Influenced by family tradition, the Brotmans have dedicated their lives to helping others, especially underrepresented students who excel academically, but struggle to afford tuition on their own. Jeff and Susan established several scholarships on campus and in 2000, with the help of Costco’s co-founder Jim Sinegal, created the Costco Scholarship Fund. More than a thousand undergraduates at the UW and Seattle University count the Costco Scholarship as a life-changing opportunity to pursue their dreams.

“Without a doubt, Jeff is truly an accomplished person, a self-starter with a vision,” says Herb Simon, who served as a UW Regent with Jeff. The two have known each other since they were 10 years old, growing up in the same Tacoma neighborhood. “Looking back, Jeff was very comfortable in his skin. People naturally perceived him to be a leader. He was never scared to take a risk, and that’s something I’ve always respected about Jeff.”

With help from Bill Gates, Sr., Nancy Evans and Laurel Nesholm, Susan took the lead in founding the UW Dinner Series, a unique engagement event that the University had never tried before. “She had this brilliant idea that she not only dreamed up, but threw herself into and made it a reality,” says Connie Kravas, UW Foundation president. “And years later, the people who open their homes for these special nights love it. It’s all thanks to Susan’s stalwart support of the UW and her extraordinary vision.”

With philanthropy in their DNA, Jeff and Susan have supported dreams at the UW and encouraged others to follow in their footsteps. Whether it’s the Law School or the Henry Art Gallery, UW Medicine or the Board of Regents, the Brotmans typify the civic glue that brings philanthropy and education together, touching countless lives along the way.

2012 — Dan and Nancy Evans

Through their distinguished record of service, leadership and generosity, Dan, ’48, ’49, and Nancy Evans have inspired countless others to follow in their footsteps, sometimes quite literally.

With a history of accomplishments on a grand scale, it’s easy to overlook the smaller gestures that Dan and Nancy often make, like the time Dan, at age 81, speed-walked a half-marathon to raise more than $100,000 for student scholarships. Or when both Dan and Nancy laced up their walking shoes to kick off a 50th anniversary run/walk for the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, attended by more than 300 people last October.

“They lead by example, the example of integrity, honesty and vision,” said Sandra Archibald, dean of the Evans School, renamed in 1999 to honor the former three-term governor and U.S. senator. The Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Evans School honors Nancy’s civic contributions. “I have witnessed first-hand how they inspire students, faculty and alumni to be better people, better public servants and better leaders.”

Dan and Nancy have left an indelible mark on the UW and beyond. At the University, they have provided philanthropic support for more than four decades and have held more than a dozen leadership roles. Dan has served two terms on the Board of Regents and as UW Foundation chair. Nancy served on the School of Public Health’s inaugural visiting committee and as honorary chair of the Evans School’s 50th Anniversary Gala. Their thoughtful and collaborative leadership is credited with making big things happen, including the renovation of Husky Stadium and construction of Benaroya Hall. “If they take on an issue, they will follow through until the task is done,” says Judy Runstad ’74, a 2009 recipient of the GVSA with her husband, Jon Runstad ’65. “Dan and Nancy personify this award and what it’s all about, service.” And, in Dan and Nancy’s case, always going the extra mile.

2011 — Mike and Lynn Garvey

At the University of Washington’s Tenth Annual Recognition Gala on September 9, local business and community leaders Mike and Lynn Garvey were named the recipients of the 2011 Gates Volunteer Service Award in recognition of their commitment of sharing their time, expertise and support.

From the Foster School of Business to the Burke Museum, UW Medicine to Law, Arts & Sciences to Athletics, the Garveys have made the UW’s learning and research efforts stronger. They’ve also served in leadership positions on numerous UW boards and committees.

After earning math and law degrees at the UW, Mike taught courses at the business school in the 1970s while getting his own law firm started. Since then, Mike has mentored and taught undergraduate, MBA and doctoral students at the Foster School and the law school. Lynn, who also attended the UW, has spent decades volunteering for the Arboretum and cheering on her beloved Huskies. Inspired to support research aimed at curing and preventing diseases after losing her sister to cancer, Lynn extended their generosity further by funding the Garvey Cell Imaging Lab and medical research. They also honored the memory of friend and business partner Bob McMillen by making a lead gift that created a professorship in his name.

Whether it’s students, faculty or community members, few can help but be inspired — including other University friends. “Mike and Lynn’s selfless approach to giving back and working with others is highly compelling and in fact, highly contagious,” said colleague and fellow Foster School volunteer Michael Mondello, president and CEO of SeaBear.

2010 — Bob and Sally Behnke and John F. Behnke

Bob (‘43) and Sally (‘44) Behnke and John F. (‘50) Behnke have dedicated countless hours serving the University of Washington and strengthening the relationships and connections between the University and its many supporters. Bob and Sally’s long-standing support has impacted numerous areas of the UW, including: the Henry Art Gallery, UW Medicine, Husky Athletics, the Presidents Fund, the Graduate School, Student Life, UW Alumni Association and more. In 1990, Bob and Sally were awarded the first UWAA Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their true Husky Commitment.

John Behnke, Bob’s brother and a longtime community leader, shared the Behnke family devotion to the UW and carved his own legacy of support. Not only was he an ardent supporter of Husky football, John volunteered across the University and was himself a recipient of the UW Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 2005 for 30 years of service to the University, including chairing its first annual fund drive in the late 1960s. John also was instrumental in implementing non-discrimination policies in all alumni activities.

2009 — H. Jon and Judith M. Runstad

Building on a multi-generational affiliation with the University, former UW Regent Jon Runstad (’65) and his wife, Judy (’74), have championed the advancement of real estate education in the College of Built Environments, generously supported the School of Law and provided undying support to the rowing program at the University. Additionally, they’ve dedicated countless hours to serving on or leading several UW committees and boards, making important connections among those who support the UW.

UW Crew Coach Bob Ernst best sums up the Runstads’ partnership with the UW and its people. “They’re the definition of our community: understated, get the job done and do it first class.”

2007 — Artie Buerk

Artie Buerk, ’58, graduated from the University of Washington nearly five decades ago, but he never really left; he has dedicated countless hours to serving on or leading UW committees and boards and making important connections among those who support the UW.

Buerk is the advisory board chairman of the Michael G. Foster School of Business and an advisory board member of the Information School. He is past president of the UW Alumni Association and a former director of the UW Foundation.

A managing director with the private equity firm Buerk Dale Victor LLC, Buerk has been a generous supporter of the University, most notably the Foster School of Business, where he created the Buerk Leadership Endowment. “He is a great leader and he leads in his own style,” says Jim Jiambalvo, dean of the school. “His style is based on his passion – and that’s networking.”

2006 — Ellsworth C. “Buster” and Nancy D. Alvord

Moments after Buster and Nancy Alvord received the Gates Volunteer Service Award at the Fifth Annual Recognition Gala Sept. 8, the couple made a surprise announcement that they will help create a Center of Excellence for Neuro-oncology at the University by establishing six new endowed faculty chairs with their family.

This commitment continues the Alvords’ long legacy of dedication to the University of Washington, particularly to UW Medicine, where the Alvords serve as members of UW Medicine’s Campaign Cabinet. In addition, Buster serves on the Neurological Surgery Committee. Nancy was a founding director of the UW Foundation and has been a member of the UW Libraries Visiting Committee and the History Visiting Committee.

“Buster and Nancy have come to philanthropy and public service quite naturally,” said UW President Mark A. Emmert. “It’s an obvious outgrowth of what they were taught by their parents and they in turn have taught it to their children and grandchildren.” The Alvords and their family, which includes 13 UW Benefactors, have collaborated to create two endowed chairs in Neuropathology and the Harborview Mission of Caring Endowed Fund for Uncompensated Care. They have made many other generous contributions to the UW.

2005 — Anne and Wayne Gittinger

Two of the University’s “quiet leaders,” Anne (’55) and Wayne (’55, ’57) Gittinger, took an unaccustomed moment in the spotlight recently when they were honored with the 2005 Gates Volunteer Service Award.

“These people are the epitome of volunteer service,” said friend Ron Crockett, a sentiment reinforced by Connie Kravas, the UW’s vice president for development and alumni relations. “Having people like Anne and Wayne behind you is like having the strongest wind in your sails,” she said.

In addition to their support for athletics and a broad range of UW programs, the Gittingers also have been longtime supporters of the School of Law, where Wayne earned his juris doctor. Their leadership contributed greatly to the success of the Campaign for William H. Gates Hall, and Wayne serves on the school’s Visiting Committee and Dean’s Advisory Board, among other volunteer activities.

2004 — Donald E. Petersen

Don Petersen began volunteering at the UW in 1979. As National Chair of the Annual Giving Campaign, he created the President’s Fund for Excellence, a University-wide source of discretionary support, and oversaw the quadrupling of private support to the UW. In 1987, he co-chaired the Campaign for Washington with John Nordstrom and Gerald Grinstein. Petersen became a founding director and first chair of the UW Foundation when it was established in 1988 and continued supporting the UW Foundation throughout Campaign UW: Creating Futures and as a generous donor whose giving has supported faculty, students, various University programs, and the UW campus.

Petersen’s continuing service reflects his deep commitment to education. “He is a great believer in lifelong learning,” said Petersen’s niece Laura Peterson, vice president for international relations at The Boeing Company. “[He believes that] education is an opportunity to help shape lives, and he likes that he can help make a difference. ”

2003 — Herman and Faye Sarkowsky

Herman (’49) and Faye (’55) Sarkowsky’s service to the UW spans three decades and a wide range of university programs, including medicine, athletics, business, architecture, arts and sciences, and the Henry Art Gallery. They have been active in the University’s fundraising efforts since the 1970s with their behind-the-scenes support for Husky athletics and were instrumental in the growth of the University’s development program. “They’re first rate examples of why our fundraising program has become so successful,” says Marilyn Batt Dunn, former vice president for development and alumni relations, “In at the ground floor, with us every step of the way, and still involved today.”

Herman served as a UW Regent from 1983 through 1985, and was the first chair of the School of Medicine’s fundraising campaign during the Campaign for Washington in the 1990s. He and Faye have hosted events on the University’s behalf and both have inspired many private contributions to UW programs. “As leaders, Herman and Faye recognized that others would follow if they led by example, which they have always done, and they led by the example of establishing the Sarkowsky Chair in Pediatric Neurology,” said UW Medicine Dean Paul Ramsey.

2002 — Hunter and Dottie Simpson

Hunter (’49) and Dottie (’82) Simpson, through their outstanding contributions to the University of Washington over the past five decades, have demonstrated extraordinary willingness to volunteer time and assets for the betterment of the UW community.

Their financial gifts to athletics, nursing, medicine, and the new law school have enabled the University to maintain its tradition of excellence and provide students with the resources they need to achieve their highest potential.

Hunter’s leadership as a UW Regent, founding director of the UW Foundation Board, and past president of the UW Alumni Association, and Dottie’s service on the School of Drama Visiting Committee, the Tyee Board, and the local and national chapters of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) have had a tremendous impact on the UW.