Education was always important to Rysavys

Bernard “Bernie” Rysavy graduated from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (then College) in 1955. There are no records of him ever returning to his alma mater. And his niece, Laura Phillips, doesn’t recall him ever specifically talking about the school.

Yet, Bernie Rysavy and his wife, Suzanne, remembered Saint Mary’s in their philanthropic giving throughout their life, and through their planned gift after their deaths.

Suzanne Rysavy passed in October of 2018, and Bernie Rysavy closely followed three months later in January 2019. They left behind a generous planned gift of $110,000 for Saint Mary’s, which is in addition to a lifetime giving level of just over that amount.

Bernie Rysavy ’55 (inset); Bernie and Suzanne Rysavy on their wedding.

Though they left behind no explanation, it’s their giving record that speaks for the Rysavys’ dedication to education.

Phillips explains that Bernie Rysavy was born and raised in Minnesota. “He would talk about working as a taxi driver and being in school at the same time, and he claimed he could sleep with his eyes open,” Phillips said. “He came from a very large Catholic family. I believe he put himself through school.”

Bernie Rysavy majored in English and married Suzanne the same year he graduated. At first, he taught history in Chicago in a rough neighborhood. The couple also adopted a baby boy, Shawn, in 1962, and sadly, he would precede them in death in 2009.

The majority of Bernie’s career included working at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., as a traffic management specialist for the government. In his retirement, he worked part time for H&R Block and he and Suzanne enjoyed traveling around the world. They visited 66 different countries and eventually settled in South Carolina to be near Phillips.

The Rysavys enjoyed traveling around the world. Lifelong learners, they generously supported education throughout their lives and in their estate plan.

“They loved each other amazingly,” Phillips said. “He cared for her after she was diagnosed with Parkinsons. He was a very loving caregiver and they were attached at the hip. They didn’t hardly do anything without the other person. (Bernie) was very smart, very detail oriented. His mind was sharp right up to when he died.

“I am getting mountains of mail because they were generous to many organizations. I think education was especially important to both of them,” she added. “Suzanne went to school in St. Louis. They would have wanted to help other people. (Bernie) wouldn’t have wanted anyone to drive a taxi all night and go to school all day. He would have wanted to help students.”

The Rysavy’s gift to the general endowment has left a lasting legacy and will support students in perpetuity.≠