The Marshall University Foundation has announced a gift of $1 million bequeathed by Rosemarie J. Bonnington toward the Alexander “Doug” Bonnington Greatest Needs Fund in honor of her late husband.
“We are sincerely grateful for Rosemarie Bonnington and her commitment to her husband’s legacy as this $1 million gift is an investment in the future of Marshall University,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “It empowers us to address our most pressing needs and seek new opportunities, ensuring that our students, faculty and staff continue to thrive.”
Doug Bonnington was born in Modesto, California, and graduated from Marshall University in 1947 with degrees in English and mathematics. He served during World War II as a U.S. Army Air Force bombardier. He spent 37 years with Ashland Oil Company’s Valvoline Oil Division. He died in 2013 at the age of 87.
Rosemarie Bonnington was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1931 and her family moved to Chile after World War II. She opened Swisshelm Realty in 1983 with her first husband, Jim Swisshelm. Swisshelm died in 1991 and in 2002 Rosemarie Bonnington married Doug Bonnington, who encouraged her to continue with Swisshelm Realty. She died in 2019 at the age of 87.
The board-designated, quasi-endowment was made through a bequest to the Marshall University Foundation from Rosemarie Bonnington’s estate upon its final administration. Once endowed, the income, determined by the spending policy established by the Marshall University Foundation Board of Directors, will be appropriated by the Foundation’s board as part of the annual budget allocation process.
To learn more about planned giving, visit marshall.mylegacygift.org/.