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Donor Stories
Lewis University is ever-grateful to the many alumni and friends who have so generously supported its mission of education since its humble beginnings in 1932. From early benefactors such as Frank J. Lewis, the Crown and Fitzpatrick families, and the Chicago Archdiocese to our several thousand (and growing) donors who contribute to making Lewis the vibrant and relevant university that it is today, we continue to appreciate all that you bestow upon us. Our continued transformation and growth would truly not be possible without you.
The following are stories about some special friends who have generously supported Lewis University through their estate plans.
JoAnn & Andrew Barber – Touching Lives in the Past, Present and Future
Harold E. White – The Legacy Society of Lewis University Named to Honor Harold E. White
Henry Kusher – Remembering Henry Kusher, Lewis University Trustee and Legacy Society Member
Louis H. Polka – Honoring the Memory of Louis H. Polka ’55
Touching Lives in the Past, Present and Future
 "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Bessie A. Stanley
While it’s safe to say that Bessie Stanley never knew JoAnn and Andrew Barber, no couple could better represent her definition of success. Countless people have breathed easier thanks to the Barbers’ spirit of giving, sincere commitment to helping others, and undying devotion to the community in which they both grew up and achieved their own success.
The story of the late Andrew Barber, who passed away in 1999, is one of hard work and persistence. After graduating from Joliet Town-ship High School, he initially attended the University of Illinois, but the Great Depression came shortly thereafter and virtually every bank in Joliet failed. Andy set a goal for himself right then and there that he would be a part of opening a new bank in Joliet. To continue moving toward his dream, Andy purchased and renovated homes for six years to build capital while commuting back and forth to Northwestern University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business and finance in 1939.
Andy’s first two attempts to organize a bank failed, but his third attempt turned out to be a remark-able success. With the partnership of a national bank examiner, Clarence D. Oberwortmann, and Joliet businessman Frank J. Turk, Sr., they pooled their resources and formed enough capital to open Union National Bank and Trust Company in 1940. What they accomplished over the next 60 years became a well-known Joliet success story. After acquiring 20 other banks across the state, in 1982 they formed the First Midwest Bancorp Inc., putting all of the banks under one umbrella. Today, First Midwest Bancorp has total assets of more than $8 billion.
Through all his success, Andy never forgot his own journey or his roots. “Andy believed in giving people a chance,” remarked JoAnn. “Whether it was someone looking to start a business, a family trying to purchase its first home, or someone who wanted an education but couldn’t afford it, Andy wanted to give people that opportunity. To this day, there is a woman in a local store where I shop who makes it a point to give me a hug and thank me. She reminds me that if it weren’t for Andy and the bank, her family would have never been able to purchase their first home. That’s the kind of impact Andy had on many lives. He was always so generous because he felt it was important to give back to the community that provided for so much of his success.”
According to JoAnn, Andy’s greatest attribute was his never-ending sense for accentuating the positive. “Andy believed in building people up, never tearing them down. He always had kind things to say and loved to compliment people to help build their self-esteem.”
The Barbers’ generosity can be found in many places throughout Will County. They have been steadfast supporters of the Joliet Park District’s Barber-Oberwortmann Horticultural Center, the Rialto Theatre, and the local chapter of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization, to name a few.
Andy, a Lewis University Trustee in the 1970s, was also highly thought-ful in his support for Lewis. He was presented with an Honorary Degree from Lewis in 1978, the De La Salle Award in 1994, and in 1998, Lewis presented the Barbers with the Frank J. Lewis Award, an honor the University bestows upon its most generous benefactors.
Through a charitable remainder trust that Andy arranged prior to his death, the Andrew B. Barber Endowed Scholarship Program was established to provide perpetual financial assist-ance to students in need. After he passed away, the funds in the trust were given to Lewis. Each year, a portion of the interest generated from the fund is used to provide Andrew B. Barber scholarships to Lewis students who have financial need, are from the Joliet area, and are also interested in pursuing careers in business or finance.
While much can be said of Andy’s success and generosity, JoAnn has likewise made her own mark on the Joliet community. A graduate of the University of St. Francis, she served on that Board of Trustees for approximately 18 years. Among her many other volunteer activities, JoAnn also has served on the Will County Community Foundation Board, Silver Cross Community Board, the Visitation and Aid Society, and the Joliet Area Community Hospice Guild.
JoAnn has always been a strong advocate of education. This was instilled while growing up in a family where education was highly valued and encouraged. After graduating from the University of St. Francis, JoAnn went on to a successful career in the educational field. She was a fourth through sixth grade school teacher in the Joliet public school system for 23 years and a librarian for seven years.
Regarding her own generosity, JoAnn credits her Christian faith, her parents and Andy as all being influences on her extraordinary willingness to help others. “As a Christian, I feel the need to give back and help those who have been less fortunate than I.” JoAnn was presented the Lewis University President’s Award of Excellence in 2000 and the De La Salle Award in 2006. Today, she continues her support of various worthwhile causes throughout the area, including Lewis. Just recently, she notified the University that it has also been remembered in her own estate plans.
While we may never know exactly how many lives the Barbers have touched and will continue to touch well into the future, we can be certain that there have been and always will be many people through-out Will County appreciative of the blessings they have received thanks to Andrew and JoAnn Barber.
The Legacy Society of Lewis University Named to Honor Harold E. White
 Harold E. White, Jr. dedicated his life to bettering the world in which he lived. Far from being a businessman interested solely in his own success, he worked to improve the community around him, and his efforts have allowed countless people to benefit. In recognition of Mr. White’s generous philanthropic support of Lewis University during his lifetime and through his planned estate gift to the University, the Legacy Society has been named in his honor.
The owner of The SUN newspaper in Naperville for more than 50 years, Mr. White bequeathed $8 million to Lewis University to endow academic enhancement, while also donating a number of other gifts to various organizations during his lifetime. The presenter of several other major gifts to the University before his death in April of 1993, he had a personal desire to make Lewis University second to none in the field of aviation in the Chicago area. Throughout his many years as an editor and publisher, Mr. White pursued a lifelong interest in flying and aviation. His wife, Eva Anderson White, who died in 1990, was a skilled and enthusiastic aviatrix and an active member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization for women pilots founded by Amelia Earhart.
His bequest, which is the largest gift in the University’s 75-year history, increased the University’s growing endowment. Today, Lewis University’s endowment is in excess of $40 million. The terms of this generous gift required his endowment funds to be used for scholarships, faculty development, science and aviation equipment, computers and technology, and maintenance of the Harold E. White Aviation Center. “For someone who has always loved flying,” Mr. White said, “it’s wonderful to see and be a part of a university where aviation is an important part of its curriculum and traditions.”
Mr. White’s first gift to Lewis University was a $2 million grant in 1991 for expansion of facilities for aviation education and acquisition of equipment to support the aviation curriculum. As a result of this grant, a high-tech flight facility was constructed adjacent to the existing Lewis Aviation building, and the entire aviation complex was named the Harold E. White Aviation Center in his memory.
His support for Lewis academics extended to other areas as well, when in late 1992 and early 1993 he presented Lewis with three gifts totaling $460,000 to provide academic equipment, faculty development funds in the sciences and scholarship aid.
Mr. White was a founding member of The Legacy Society of Lewis University, which recognizes those who make decisions to provide for the University through planned gifts, including bequest intentions, charitable trusts, gift annuities and other vehicles. His generosity and commitment to Lewis continues today in a charitable gift annuity trust, which has a present market value of over $800,000.
The Whites developed The SUN newspaper from a four-page “throw-away” in the 1930s to
a successful and respected regional chain. Mr. White purchased The SUN newspaper at the end of the depression, so the young couple learned to make the best of what they had despite the fact that financial success came slowly.
Their success became the good fortune of so many, and their legacy will endure for generations to come. For these many reasons, The Lewis University Legacy Society has been re-named The Harold E. White Legacy Society of Lewis University.
Remembering Henry Kusher, Lewis University Trustee
and Legacy Society Member
 When he was a young man, Henry Kusher learned to play both the bugle and the violin. It’s hard to imagine two more different instruments, but they could be seen as a metaphor for the way Henry lived his life. While fun-loving and light-hearted, Henry was also serious, refined and dedicated to the enduring values that shaped his life. His parents helped to instill those values from an early age by encouraging him in his education. In addition to the instruments he learned to play, Henry studied dance and became an Eagle Scout. He attended St. George High School and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. In the middle of his college years, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Japan.
Henry became a chemist and made his career with Baxter International. In the early years of his employment, he was what is known as a “batch chemist.” He proudly shared with his wife, Gertrude, that he “never lost a batch.” Even so, Baxter soon discovered that Henry had very strong people skills and promoted him to management. He was sent to Mississippi and Kentucky to oversee manufacturing plants. This led to a promotion to vice president of Baxter’s international division. Eventually, he took charge of Baxter’s efforts in Central and South America, but also traveled extensively throughout the world for the company.
Henry’s successful career was augmented by his continuing interest in music. He served as business manager for the Waukegan Symphony and Symphony Chorus and played violin in the orchestra and sang bass in the chorus. He also volunteered with the Inter-national Executive Service Corps and the Chicago Executive Service Corps. Henry joined the Lewis University Board of Trustees at the behest of Brother Daniel McMullen
in 1981 and served with distinction and honor for 21 years. He held the position of Vice Chairman of the Board and also served as a member of the Board’s Trustee Develop-ment Committee and the Building Futures Campaign Committee.
According to Gertrude, Brother Daniel told Henry that he was being recruited to Lewis because “we want workers!” Henry made Lewis University his “home away from home,” says Gertrude. “Henry was dedicated to the mission of the Christian Brothers and sought to advance it both at St. Mary’s University (his alma mater) and at Lewis University.” Gertrude also shared that Henry was described as a “Renaissance Man” because of his never-ending desire to learn and try new things, and his great belief in a liberal arts education. She said that Henry loved to read, primarily historical and religious materials. He also greatly enjoyed entertaining, especially when he could be the chef. She and Henry did a good deal of traveling during his last years and spent a lot of time at Lewis University. Gertrude remembers those visits with great fondness.
Because of his belief in the mission of Lewis University, Henry Kusher included the University in his estate plans. Gertrude said it was only natural that he would have done so. Gertrude describes her late husband as a “gentleman” who continued his attendance at church for as long as he could during his last years. He remained active in his parish and involved in several ministries. Henry died of throat cancer in 2002. He was survived by his wife, Gertrude, and his daughters, Caroline, Michelle, Christine and Catherine.
Honoring the Memory of Louis H. Polka '55
 Vivian and Louis “Lou” Polka were married for 28 years when he died unexpectedly at the age of 68 in 2001. Besides his wife, Lou was survived by five children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Polka felt a fitting tribute to her late husband would be remembering his schools in her will. She recently notified Lewis University of her gift intention.
Lou Polka attended Lewis in the early 1950s, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1955. An able football player, he was the team’s quarterback and also played defense. He came to Lewis from St. Patrick High School, where he began his football career. Lou also served as a volunteer coach, with an outstanding record, for nine years in the Dallas, Texas area, where he lived most of his adult life.
Lou always remained friends with his Lewis schoolmates, some of whom included Patrick Callahan, Matthew Connor, Lester Kraft and the late Edward Novak. Lewis friendships were an important part of Lou’s history. Father John Brennan, teacher and athletic director, and Bernie Masterson, the former Bears player who served as football coach during Lou’s time at Lewis College, were important figures in his life.
Pat Callahan described Lou as “a down to earth kind of guy.” Pat told us how he, Lou and
others would go to the nearby Fitzpatrick House and the local quarry to load stones in a school pickup truck. They would return to Lewis to build the Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which still stands at the heart of the Lewis campus. Pat said the Grotto was a labor of love for Lewis and “because we liked Father Brennan so much.”
Pat also said Lou was quite a magician. They often went to local Rotary and VFW dinners, where Pat assisted Lou with his magic act in exchange for their dinners! “Lou did all kinds of tricks and was very good. He was still doing tricks when he came to Lewis for his Athletic Hall of Fame induction in 1994.” Lou performed magic professionally at corporate and private functions as a second career.
Lou began his career in sales while at Lewis. This led to the creation of his sales company for commercial cleaning products and also a maintenance business. Later he and Vivian focused on floor care. Lou was involved in sales his entire career.
“Lou was a warm-hearted man who was full of life,” Mrs. Polka shared with us. “He loved Lewis, his friends, teachers and classes. He always spoke very highly of Father Brennan and the Christian Brothers. He was very appreciative of the opportunity to attend college. It is because of his St. Patrick and Lewis scholarships that I feel good about giving back to the schools that meant so much to him. I also have his name on a brick in the Heritage Circle, so his name would remain at Lewis – there and in the Athletic Hall of Fame.”
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