A Legacy of Learning
FORMER LBCC MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR RON MASON
EMPOWERS STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Naming Beneficiaries
When planning your estate, selecting and updating beneficiaries is crucial. Here are five mistakes to avoid:
Ron’s personal experiences shape his commitment to education. During his college years, he could cover tuition, books, and living expenses through full-time summer work and part-time jobs during the academic year. Today’s students face different challenges, with education costs reaching unprecedented levels. Through LBCC Foundation scholarships, Ron helps create opportunities for the next generation of learners.
welders, and poets - LBCC provides pathways to these essential careers. Beyond his current scholarship support, Ron has included the LBCC Foundation in his estate planning, ensuring his legacy of educational support continues.
1. Not naming beneficiaries on all accounts: This forces your estate into probate and can result in lost tax advantages for your heirs.
During his teaching career, Ron made mathematics accessible and practical. His specialized classes drew Oregon millwrights from coastal communities like Tillamook and Astoria to Albany, showcasing his ability to connect theoretical concepts with real-world applications.
Ron envisions a society enriched by education, where learning benefits both individuals and the community as a whole. From scientists and nurses to teachers, auto mechanics, Ron Mason embodies the spirit of giving back to education. As a former LBCC mathematics faculty member of over twenty years and a three-term Board of Education member, Ron has established an endowed scholarship supporting students in Math, Science, or Engineering. This scholarship provides a full year’s tuition for one student, with Ron’s vision to expand it to support two students annually.
His passion for education extends beyond the classroom. When not supporting students, Ron immerses himself in mystery and crime novels and finds joy in saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut from his boat. He advocates for community service, believing that everyone can contribute to making their community stronger.
To learn more about how you can support LBCC students through planned giving, contact Jim Birken, Planned Giving Manager, at birkenj@ linnbenton.edu or 541-760-0295.
2. Forgetting contingent beneficiaries: If your primary beneficiary passes away first and no contingent beneficiary is listed, your assets go to probate.
3. Using generic terms instead of specific names: Writing “children” instead of full names can create complications, especially in blended families.
4. Not reviewing designations regularly: Life changes like divorce, marriage, or deaths require updates to your beneficiary selections. Remember that beneficiary designations override your will.
5. Poor communication with family: While sharing exact amounts isn’t necessary, discussing your general legacy plans helps loved ones understand your intentions.