A large donation is on its way to Lake Forest College through one of the school’s most passionate supporters.

LFC has announced a $5 million bequest from the school’s longtime Dean of Admissions Spike Gummere, along with his wife, Judy. With the bequest, the Vice President of Enrollment position, currently held by Chris Ellertson, will now be known as the Spike Gummere Vice President for Enrollment. The funds will also be used to support the college’s endowment.

A college statement indicated the bequest was one of the largest planned gifts in school history.

It is the latest sign of support for LFC from Gummere who was long been a fixture at LFC. Now well into his 80s, he continues to be active on the campus today at the Office of Advancement.

He cited the college’s growing reputation academically as one of the reasons for the large financial gift.

“It’s been a real pleasure to be part of an institutional that has been on the uprise consistently over those the years I’ve been here,” he said.

The bequest – which will go into effect upon the passing of both Spike and Judy – represents just the latest form of support from the Gummeres. The school previously established a fellowship program in their name and he was active in support the college philanthropically.

“I think that this gift signifies the legacy and the impact that he’s had on the college. I view this as like the exclamation point on everything that he’s done,” noted Katie Spieth, LFC’s Vice President of Advancement.

The Gummere bequest is one part of an overall campaign to increase the school’s endowment. Spieth said. The school aims to raise a minimum of $175 million over the next three to five years through this campaign with more than $50 already been committed.

“We want to continue to focus on growing our academic and student support programming and also developing some programming that will support our community connections in the local Lake Forest area,” Spieth said.

Gummere, who made an effort to get to know as many of the LFC students personally, also spoke in big picture terms about the responsibilities of the college.

“It’s not our job to get a student a job, that’s on their shoulders,” he said. “But it is our job to help them understand how their interests, their talents can be put to work.”

 Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/25/lake-forest-college-large-bequest/