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Honoring the Legacy
and John were wed in St. Louis in 1943. They were the proud parents of six children: Joy Schiffman Masterson ’65, John Jr., Nancy, Donald, Marilee and Bonnie. Today, they are survived by these six children, as well as 11 grandchildren, nine greatgrandchildren and three expected great-great-grandchildren. Two years before they married, Althea Schiffman graduated from Christian College in 1941 with a degree in arts. While she continued her education at Washington University in St. Louis, her love for her alma mater never waned, demonstrating that volunteerism and philanthropy were family values for the Schiffmans. Althea Schiffman showed dedication and versatility in her role as a volunteer for Columbia College. She was an active member of the Columbia College Alumni Club of St. Louis and served as
2010
2011
Michael Beschloss, award-winning presidential historian
Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Celebrating John Schiffman’s 95th Birthday, in 2011, from left to right: Donald Schiffman (son), and wife Martha Schiffman, Dan Longo and wife Nancy Longo (daughter), John A. Schiffman III (son) and wife Marilyn Schiffman, John A. Schiffman (seated), Marilee Gaar (daughter), Evan Pearson and wife Bonnie Pearson (daughter) and Joy Masterson (daughter).
both a director and an officer of the Columbia College National Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1963 to 1976. In 1982, she enthusiastically accepted the request of the college to serve as national chairman of the Partners in Progress Alumni Campaign, a major capital fundraising drive undertaken by the college. Largely due to her efforts in enlisting and supporting
2012 Christine Brennan, awardwinning journalist, sports analyst and best-selling author
2013 Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and human rights advocate
campaign volunteers, the campaign was highly successful. Following that campaign, she was honored to join the Columbia College Board of Trustees in 1983. For her decades of outstanding service, Althea Schiffman received the Columbia College Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985. She was recommended by the Columbia College National Alumni Association Records
2014
2015
Nina Totenberg, National Public Radio’s awardwinning legal affairs correspondent
Jean-Michel Cousteau, explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer and son of Jacques Cousteau