A Gift for Tallahassee

After Thomas DeLopez '67 graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, he left Tallahassee. But soon he would return...and, together with his wife, Sandy, lift up the community as well as FSU.

A football scholarship brought the Hialeah, Florida, native to FSU. After graduation, he furthered his dental education at Emory University and met Sandy on a blind date. He also spent three years in Germany as a dental officer with the rank of major in the U.S. Army.

When deciding where to begin his private practice, Tom felt the pull of Tallahassee, where he had enjoyed life as an undergrad. He also felt compelled to practice in an area where dentistry was not prevalent. Sandy, meanwhile, continued her education by earning two master's degrees at FSU.

Now known as artists in their respective fields—Tom in cosmetic dentistry, Sandy in oil and acrylics—the DeLopezes also share an interest in the mission of the College of Medicine at FSU.

Sandy says she and Tom had always intended to include FSU in their estate plans, but something specific sparked their lasting support of the College of Medicine: an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute lecture that Sandy attended, presented by Dr. Kenneth Brummel-Smith on behalf of the College of Medicine.

With an initial education in arts and humanities plus his dental experience, Tom understands the value of a proper skill set with an added humanities component. Given the College of Medicine's mission to educate and develop physicians who go on to practice primarily in elder, rural, minority and underserved areas, Tom and Sandy wanted to leave a legacy through FSU as a way of enriching Tallahassee and surrounding rural areas with a focus in residency training.

And so, Sandy reached out to the FSU Foundation Office of Gift and Estate Planning. Together with the College of Medicine, the DeLopezes created the Dr. Thomas and Sandra DeLopez Endowed Fund in Medical Education.

Now retired, Tom and Sandy continue to support FSU, the College of Medicine and Seminole Boosters, which will only strengthen FSU as a top-rated university. They hope to encourage and inspire other donors who are looking to provide longevity to FSU and the causes important to them.

Want to Know More About How to Fund an Endowment?

Contact The Office of Gift and Estate Planning at (850) 644-0753 or giftplanning@foundation.fsu.edu and we will be happy to help you.