John Novotny
Director, Law School Advancement
john.novotny@marquette.edu
414-288-5285
Christine Wilczynski-Vogel
Assistant Dean for External Relations
christine.wv@marquette.edu
414-288-3167
Ray and Kay Eckstein
An “expression of gratitude.”
That’s how Ray and Kay Eckstein describe their $51 million gift to Marquette University, toward construction of the new Law School building which will bear their names.
It is the largest gift ever made by individuals to a Wisconsin college or university, and one of the largest ever to a law school in the United States.
“My wife and I have many fond memories at Marquette,” says Ray, a 1949 graduate of the Law School. “It was the place of our meeting and courtship, and the beginning of our wonderful life together. Catholic, Jesuit education has played an important role in our lives. We are honored and thrilled to be able to provide the Law School with the foundation for a new building, so that students in the future can have the opportunity to benefit from the education we did.”
Kay Eckstein, who received her bachelor’s degree from Marquette in speech in 1949, says their granddaughter’s recent experience as a graduate of the Law School reinforced their sense of gratitude for the values of a Marquette education. “We saw once again the caring, challenging environment that Marquette continues to offer its students,” she explains.
Both the Ecksteins add their hope that their gift will encourage others to step forward to make the new building a reality – that it will “inspire people to do more for Marquette than they have ever imagined.”
Learn more »
