Sommerfelds’ Charitable Gift Annuity Builds on Their University Library Legacy
Tom and Elinore Sommerfield
R. Thomas “Tom” (BGS ’74) and Elinore (AB ’72, AM ’74) Meyer Sommerfeld, of Boulder Junction, Wis., are proud to represent the University of Michigan. They have served as student recruiters at college fairs for more than 25 years, and Elinore, who has a relationship with a private boarding high school, also encourages that school’s students to apply to U-M. The Sommerfelds’ work to bring top students to Michigan exemplifies their steadfast Maize and Blue spirit. So does their creation of a deferred payment charitable gift annuity (CGA) with the University.
Over the years, the Sommerfelds have made cash gifts to diverse areas of the University, including Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, the Detroit Observatory (through the Bentley Library), Michigania and the Hearron Scholarship at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. These gifts reflect their wide interests and family connections to the University. Tom’s father, Roy Sommerfeld (AM ’47, PhD ’52), and late mother, Emma (AB ’36) Kedney Sommerfeld, are U-M graduates, as are Tom’s sister, Martha Sommerfeld Hearron (BS ’64, MPH ’66), her late husband, Arthur Hearron (MPH ’65) and Elinore’s mother, Marian Schaefer Meyer (AB ’41).
In addition, Tom and Elinore have carved a charitable niche at the University Library through cash contributions and a bequest intention. Their deferred payment CGA will also benefit the Library.
“We’d been involved with supporting the University since the last big campaign,” Elinore said. “Over time, we realized that the Library is the heart, soul, and spine of the University. Everybody, no matter what school they are in, uses the Library. So giving to the Library is a way to support the entire University. The CGA was a good opportunity to make a substantial gift to the University and then, in a few years, get some income from it. The income is not the reason to make the gift, but it doesn’t hurt.”
The chance to support the world-class stature of the Library was the inspiration for the Sommerfelds’ CGA. “The Library is cutting edge in a lot of ways, and we hope it will stay that way,” Elinore said. “We know that in recent years the Library and other areas have been under financial pressure. If our support helps keep staff and brings books in, that’s great. If it helps with the Google initiative, that’s great too.”
The outstanding character of the Library is one thing the Sommerfelds enjoy during their regular visits to campus—athletics is another. “We have been successful in making it down to two football games every fall,” Tom said. They choose two home games in a row and vacation in between. Because of Ann Arbor’s museums, restaurants, cultural events and bookstores, they say the city is a great place to play tourist. Their trips to campus also show the Sommerfelds the positive difference they make for Michigan through their service and philanthropy.
