Peter '74 and Nancy Torpey's Gift Designed to Support Student Summer Research

Peter Torpey '74 was initially attracted to Union's strong science program, but there was an additional hurdle. As a blind student, he was looking for a small school he could navigate. Union College was the perfect fit.

"Union gave me a great foundation. It was a launching pad for graduate school and ultimately my career." Peter and his wife Nancy both hold PhDs in physics and worked as research scientists at Xerox, where they met.

Grateful for his Union experience, Peter and Nancy have always supported the College. They have given every year for many years and now have found a way to give that will be even more impactful and meaningful.

The Torpeys decided to create a bequest to endow a summer research fellowship. "We thought it was a neat idea," Peter notes. "Union educates people for the real world. If we can help facilitate that, we feel good about that. We've always had a portion set aside for charitable things, but this is a more concrete way to make sure we're doing something specific," Peter and Nancy observe. "Plus, if we can use this to support a student with a visual or other physical impairment, that adds extra meaning to us," adds Nancy.

Peter and Nancy hope their gift provides more than financial support. "We see it as a motivational boost too," says Nancy. "If Peter could do it, they can too."

Through their foresight and generosity, Peter and Nancy will support the things most important to them. We invite you to do the same by making a planned gift that expresses your love for Union and the area of focus that is meaningful to you.

The Torpeys remain dedicated to science, and to educating young people. They are proud of the podcast they've done weekly for over ten years. Through Eyes On Success, www.EyesOnSuccess.net, they share special features, stories of the visually impaired, and new technologies.