And the Rest Is History…

Lifelong learners, world travelers and long-time residents of Dunedin, Florida, Drs. Maryhelen and Hugh Harmon have dedicated their lives and legacy to education.

Dr. Maryhelen Harmon, distinguished literature professor at the University of South Florida, received its highest teaching award in 1987, was president of the Florida College English Association and the Popular Culture Association in the South, and recognized as a noted authority on Hawthorne and Melville. She also taught in the FSU Florence program in 1994 and is a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, as well as at Oxford and Cambridge. She and her husband Dr. Hugh Harmon, a Korean war veteran and retired dentist, have seen firsthand the positive impact philanthropic giving can have on an institution of higher education. They are proud to be among the many dedicated donors who have helped to support FSU over the years. Their generous contributions to the university have played an important role in advancing Florida State’s mission of academic excellence.

The Harmon’s involvement with Florida State University began when Maryhelen, already an established professor in 19th century British and American literature at USF, was inspired by the academic rigor and intellectual curiosity she found on Florida State’s campus as a doctoral student.

She reconnected with her mentors, Dr. Bruce Bickley and the late Dr. Fred Stanley, who remained very important figures for decades beyond Maryhelen’s time at FSU. She states that they helped her so much, and she “emulated Dr. Bickley when [she] became a major professor at USF as a way of passing the torch.”

Reflecting on her time at FSU, Maryhelen explained that “the people at FSU were able to separate and relate to [her] as a student, someone they had never met before,” even though she was already in the higher education field, which is why FSU is the recipient of their philanthropic giving.

Over the years, Maryhelen and Hugh have remained deeply committed to FSU and have been fortunate to support a wide range of programs and initiatives across the College of Arts and Sciences. Through their philanthropic giving, the Harmons have helped to support the English department through student scholarships, travel support and faculty development programs.

They are confident that their establishment of the Cleverly-Harmon-Bickley Endowments in English will continue to serve as a tribute to Dr. Harmon’s vision of English education at FSU and as a tribute to her mentor and major professor, Dr. R. Bruce Bickley, one of the world’s most foremost authorities on the writings of Joel Chandler Harris. “History is reflected in literature,” Maryhelen said of her literary connection to this legacy. “Well, the rest is history…” she laughed.

When it came time to determine charitable giving through their estate, the Harmons were eager to give back to the university that had given Maryhelen so much. In an effort to maximize their philanthropic mission, the Harmons were very strategic in the way they chose to create their Florida State legacy. Through a bequest and income-driven annuities, Maryhelen recalls taking great joy in knowing that the team at FSU was very professional and knew what they were doing. One of the strategic methods they also used to build their legacy was through a retained life estate.^* This was a way for the Harmons to benefit from a charitable deduction now by gifting their primary residence to FSU. This strategy allows the Harmons to remain in their home as long as they wish, as well as gives them the satisfaction of fulfilling their philanthropic intentions to the Cleverly-Harmon-Bickley Endowment for Excellence in English in the future.

Overall, Maryhelen and Hugh believe their philanthropic work with FSU has been a very rewarding experience. They are proud to be a part of a community of donors who are passionate about the university and its mission and are inspired by the many ways in which FSU is making a positive impact on the world. They encourage anyone who is considering making a philanthropic gift to FSU through their estate to do so without hesitation.

Planned gifts allow Florida State to continue to flourish for years to come. There are many charitable ways to show your support, some of which are highlighted here. The Office of Gift and Estate Planning is happy to serve as a resource to help strategically align your personal philanthropic mission with your interests at Florida State University.

If you want to learn more about philanthropic estate planning, contact The Office of Gift and Estate Planning at (850) 644-0753 or giftplanning@foundation.fsu.edu.

^* A retained life estate is a charitable way of transferring a remainder interest in a residential property—personal primary residence, vacation home, farm, condominium or stock in a cooperative housing corporation—to Florida State while continuing to live in or use it for your lifetime. When the property comes to Florida State, the university uses the sale proceeds as the donor instructs.