James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2008 - Index

32
Lois Forbes shows the piano desk of the hand-painted art case Steinway piano
that is first in a series of 100 commissioned by JMU. Bruce and Lois Forbes have
a huge collection of JMU memorabilia and Madison-theme fine art.
the reaSon for GivinG
The Forbeses’ many gifts to Madison
have been prompted in great measure by
the hard work they have seen students,
faculty members and administrators put
into the school. Bruce admires President
Rose, especially the way he plans and gets
things done without a lot of fanfare. in
fact, the genesis of the Forbeses’ large gift
to the new Performing arts Center lies in
the president’s hard work and determination
to get the job done.
When Rose first told Bruce about
the new center several years ago, Bruce
remembers that he asked the president
where it would go. “We walked out of
alumnae Hall,” Bruce says, “and he told
me that it was going up across from the
Quad. i just thought it was an impossible
‘it’s an honor to do it. We
really need to establish
more of a base of giving ...
We need people to step
up ... You need to give
something back.’
— L ois Cardarella Forbes (’64)
Madison Magazine
feat to be honest with you, but they just
kept right on it.
“i’ve never seen them back off from
their plan. once they set a plan, they follow
the plan.” Referring to the new PaC,
Bruce says, “Their plan is a pretty high
bar to come to …. You couldn’t have
better leadership.”
The hard work impressed the Forbeses.
The Forbeses had seen the same traits of
quality and hard work their friend J. Pat
Rooney produced in his years leading the
Marching Royal dukes. “i was tired of
seeing them have to play in every nook,
every corner of the university ... in every
hallway … outdoors,” Bruce says.
“i just felt that … all the work that
they’d put into the place that we should
come forward. i really don’t think people
realize the amount of work that’s going
into this.”
When Bruce and Lois talk about their
many generous gifts to JMU, one sentiment
is overarching: “it’s an honor to be
able to do it,” Lois says. “We really need
to establish more of a base of giving. …
We need people to step up …. You need
to give something back.”
Bruce adds, “i hope it prompts other
people to give more to the university.”
Joanne Carr, senior vice president for
university advancement, says, “Bruce
and Lois indeed will inspire others. at
the Madison Century campaign kickoff
in 2006, when steve Leeolou [’78]
announced the $1 million gift that he and
dee dee would make, i began to hear
people say, ‘i want to do what steve did.’
now we’re beginning to hear, ‘i want to
do what the Forbeses did.’ That’s how a
successful private giving program grows.”
affection in action
While the Forbeses graciously answered
questions about themselves and posed for
pictures, it was obvious they would rather
talk about Madison. They both light up
when conversation turns to “their” school.
The Forbeses love JMU, and they have
demonstrated that love over and over in a
manner that might be described as equal
opportunity donors. The Forbeses’ have
influenced athletics, art and business.
While son Jeff’s involvement drew Lois
back to JMU, granddaughters samantha
and sabrina may hold the future.
granddaughter sabrina likely will
follow in her athletic father’s shoes. “i
could probably see sabrina playing field
hockey,” says Lois. “samantha is our
dancing queen … i think she will be the
artistic one doing something fun on one
of the PaC stages.”
she’s already tried her artistic hand.
during the recent Centennial Celebration,
the Forbeses purchased a “paintable”
duke dog for the students in
samantha’s classroom, and the resulting
“Puppy daze” — one of just 34 duke
dogs painted for the centennial — featured
the talents of samantha and her
classmates. “school daze” now proudly
sits in Bruce’s office.
in the corner of the Forbeses’ great
room sits a JMU Centennial steinway,
one of just 100 commissioned to celebrate
the university’s founding. “it’s no.
1 [in the series],” Bruce says. Like the
marquis of “Big Jim,” standing nearby,
the Forbeses’ collection of JMU-related
artifacts will someday go to JMU.
Long after the Forbeses are gone, their
gifts to Madison will continue to reverberate.
in the meantime, they’ll be on
the sidelines of every game, attend every
artistic opening and cheer on the school
that so mirrors their own lives and that is
so close to their hearts. M
steinway photograph by diane elliott (’00);
ground breaking by brian dillensynder (’08)