In Memoriam: Leslie (Mitzi) Magin

Mitzi Magin A light that will never cease to shine

How do you say goodbye to someone who defined the very essence of grace, courage, charm, intelligence, and beauty? The passing of Ave Maria Law Board of Governors member Mitzi Magin was a deep sorrow and tragic loss personally to me, and to those of us who had the privilege of knowing her. She will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Her devotion to Catholic education in Southwest Florida was legendary. Beginning with establishing the St. Ann School Foundation more than 30 years ago and continuing with her support of St. John Newmann High School and Ave Maria School of Law, Mitzi worked tirelessly to provide scholarships to deserving students, be they elementary, middle school, high school or law school. Thousands of children and young adults were given the opportunity to experience a Catholic education, thanks to her generosity and vision. Mitzi told me many times that education was the most valuable asset one could provide to a child. She remarked that “By offering an education to our young people, we not only help develop mind, body and spirit but also their sense of knowing the true meaning of freedom, social justice, and peace; and that by accomplishing this we plant a ‘seed of hope,’ not only for their future but for all mankind.” What an inspiration she was! For the many social events she attended and hosted on behalf of Catholic education, for her insight and steady counsel to the boards she served on, to the way she lived her faith by loving her God and her church, Mitzi was indeed something special. She will be missed. Mitzi was a truly beautiful person inside and out. Anyone lucky enough to have known her or have been in her presence will agree that she was a light that will never cease to shine. She became a treasured friend to everyone she met. Mitzi was a superb conversationalist, always asking about our lives, listening to us, informing us and often times challenging us. She had impeccable taste and an impressive appreciation of modern art. How she loved to entertain and to be entertained! Her zest for life was indeed, contagious. Born in Chicago and raised in the San Francisco area, Mitzi was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. She was married to James F. Magin for fifty years until his passing in 2012. They resided in Chicago for 24 years, where Mitzi was actively involved in numerous charities, and in 1987 the couple moved to Naples. In addition to her philanthropy to benefit Catholic education, Mitzi‘s charitable work included St. Ann Church, The Blessed Edmond Rice School of Pastoral Ministry, Catholic Charities, Professional Givers Anonymous, Naples Community Hospital and NCH Healthcare Foundation.

Mitzi Magin with Donna Heiser

Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Florida in Venice and a fellow member of Ave Maria Law’s Board of Governors, was saddened by her death and noted that “her commitment to Catholic Education inspired others to follow her lead. She was a dear friend who thought of others first.” An example of the impact of her philanthropy can be found on the Naples campus of St. John Neumann Catholic High School where a 35-foot Celtic Cross was dedicated in her honor in 2010. Mitzi was preceded in death by her husband as well as her brother, G. Stuart Spence Jr. She is survived by her stepmother, Grace Spence of San Francisco, her brother, Richard Spence (Leanne) of Wilsonville, Oregon, her sister-in-law, Carol L. Spence, of Montecito, California; and nieces and nephews. A few years ago, when interviewing her for an article in the Advocate, I asked Mitzi what advice she would share with the young men and women at Ave Maria Law. Without hesitation, she said that “it is vitally important for our future lawyers to be advocates of the law and to uphold it. We are facing tremendous challenges in our country and the need for moral lawyers who will advocate for traditional values, rather than obstructionists who seek to undermine our government, has never been more important or essential.” Those words are even more relevant today. Rest in peace, Mitzi. Your light will never cease to shine for us.

– Donna C. Heiser

In Loving Memory of Agnes “Be” Enochs

We were very saddened to note the passing of a good friend of Ave Maria School of Law from Manhattan Beach, California, Mrs. Agnes Enochs. Affectionately know as “Be,” she and her husband Duane have been benefactors and friends of the law school for many years. Be was a very devout Catholic who believed in the law school’s mission to educate moral and ethical lawyers that will make a difference in our world, and who will stand for all that is good. We attended Be’s funeral in February and remarked on the many friends and family that paid tribute to this lovely lady. Our sincere condolences are with her husband Duane and her family. May she rest in peace, and may her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

THE MITZI MAGIN SCHOLARSHIP

The recent passing of Board of Governors member Mitzi Magin was a tragic loss to those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, and to the entire Ave Maria Law community. Her devotion to Catholic education and to Ave Maria School of Law helped to provide scholarships to many deserving students, thanks to her generosity and vision. We are truly privileged to announce the establishment of the Mitzi S.Magin Scholarship at Ave Maria School of Law, in honor and in memory of her significant impact on Catholic legal education. Mitzi believed that it was “vitally important for future lawyers to be advocates of the law and to uphold it. We are facing tremendous challenges in our country and the need for moral lawyers who will advocate for traditional values, rather than obstructionists who seek to undermine our government, has never been more important or essential.”

For more information or if you would like to contribute a gift to the Mitzi S. Magin Scholarship fund, please contact Donna Heiser at 239-687-5405 or dheiser@avemarialaw.edu.

MY SUPPORT FOR THE PRESENTMY COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE

“I have been involved with the Ave Maria School of Law program since 2008 when the Law School first began the transition from Michigan to the Naples, Florida campus. Classrooms and facilities were being redesigned for several months before the faculty, the staff and the first class of students arrived on campus. I was honored to be able to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony in the Commons area to officially open the new campus in March of 2009. In the 11 years since that day, I have watched the Law School and its’ campus grow with steadfast confidence deeply rooted in the balance of faith and reason. In all those years, the mission and the vision have remained clear and have never changed. If anything the commitment became stronger with each passing year. I believe in the mission and I share the vision. The graduates of this Law School will make a real difference in who we are as a community and who we are as a country. I want to support that effort. In 2019, I decided to begin a Charitable Gift Trust in which five 501(c)(3) organizations will receive a portion of the Gift Trust following my passing. One of those organizations is Ave Maria School of Law. I have made the commitment to grow the amount of the irrevocable Gift Trust each year with a sizeable donation to the Trust so that the total value of the Trust will increase over time with the help of a mildly aggressive investment strategy. It is simply the right thing to do for me and for Ave Maria School of Law. A quick discussion with my financial advisor and the strategy was initiated in a matter of minutes. This Trust in no way replaces the need to assist the Law School each year in support of its’ extensive scholarship program for students in need and for military veterans seeking a law degree. That is an ongoing need and cannot wait for a trust to be executed in future years. So there is balance of supporting the Law School’s short term operating needs with long term institutional support. These are two extremely important and completely separate issues for the Law School and there is a time and an opportunity to support both. I am absolutely delighted to be able to recognize several family members who served in the U.S. Military. The Wall of Honor located just inside the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Law Library provides an opportunity to acknowledgeable their service and sacrifice. I visit that wall frequently in memory of all those who honorably served this country to preserve our freedom. Through the “Veterans Legacies at Ave Law” program, a grateful nation will never forget.” – Anonymous current and planned giving donor” Advocate | 2020