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Bergeron Family Leaves Lasting, Historic Legacy

Jack Bergeron

Jack Bergeron '70, son of Urban "Ben" Bergeron '39

For nearly a century, the family of Urban "Ben" Bergeron has been beloved and respected on the Saint Michael’s College campus. From Ben's first days on campus in the 1930s, he lived his long life with fidelity to the school that he loved and the Edmundites he befriended and admired. As a member of the Heritage Circle, Ben's legacy is kept alive through the opportunities his contributions continue to provide to students at Saint Michael's. Children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps as Purple Knights, surely proud of their family's devotion to this place and willingness to live out the college motto by example: Do Well and Do Good.

Now, to celebrate the family patriarch during the 50th reunion year of his son Jack ('70), his family has generously increased the Urban L. Bergeron Scholarship Endowment to $1 million, continuing an affordable path to a Saint Michael's education for 23 grateful past recipients and countless more in the future.

Urban L. Bergeron Scholarship Endowment Reaches One Million Dollars

As Urban "Ben" L. Bergeron's (1916-2003) Saint Michael's Scholarship endowment reaches one million dollars, his family would like you to know a little about this generous, hard-working, self-made man and his loyalty to Saint Michael’s College.

Ben, who was a devout Catholic, also valued education as a way to improve one's life and community. He wanted to help any motivated student afford higher education at St. Mike's as he struggled to pay for his own. Ben established the Urban L. Bergeron Scholarship Endowment Fund in 1988 in observance of the 50th anniversary of his Class of 1939. Now, in the observance of his son John "Jack" J. Bergeron's 50th anniversary of his class of 1970, Ben's children agreed to increase the endowment to one million dollars.

Ben was born and brought up in Burlington, VT, a member of Saint Joseph's parish. He was the first to survive surgery for a spinal fusion at the age of four (1920), and had to be in a full-body cast for a year. This never stopped Ben physically, and probably contributed to his becoming quite a scholar. He gave his high school (Saint Edmund's Juniorate in Swanton, VT) valedictorian speech in Greek! It did stop him from being accepted in the military at the start of WWII, which was a great disappointment to Ben, but he completed pilot training in 1939 and served as a member of the Vermont Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

After graduation, Ben worked at the Burlington Free Press for 41 years, holding offices of controller, general manager, vice president, publisher and president. He was the first publisher who was not related to the Howe family! The Free Press debuted its Sunday edition under Ben's direction in 1975, and he retired in 1979.

Ben continually contributed to his community, serving on many corporate, civic, charitable, social and Catholic organizations. Most noted, Ben was a founding member and served 17 years as director and treasurer of Cynosure Inc., a corporation formed to purchase land and construct buildings to foster industrial development (and more job opportunities) in Chittenden County.

He participated in the negotiations of the original lease that brought IBM to Essex Junction. As an alumnus and supporter of Saint Michael’s College, Ben served as Chairman of the Associate Trustees before 1971 and from 1971-1980 was a Trustee, thereafter holding the title of Trustee Emeritus until the time of his death. Ben was awarded Alumnus of the year in 1971, received an honorary degree from St. Mike's in 1978, and was inducted into SMC Chapter of the National Catholic Honor Society, Delta Epsilon in 1980.

Ben cherished his lifelong friendships with the Society of Saint Edmund's priests. Many plaques around campus honor Ben and his wife Pauline's many contributions to St. Mike's. Most noted, they were the principal endowing donors of the Bergeron Education Center (now the Bergeron Wellness Center), and they helped establish the Journalism Department at Saint Michael’s College.

We are pleased that Ben and Pauline can continue to contribute to the education of Chittenden County students through the Urban L. Bergeron Scholarship, 32 years after its founding. We hope other alumni of Saint Michael’s College will consider scholarship donations in the future.

Jack Bergeron Celebrates 50th Reunion Year With Ongoing Commitment to Saint Michael's

It speaks highly of a father when his son follows in his footsteps, as Jack did by following his dad, Ben, to Saint Michael's in the 1960s. Yet Jack has made his own lasting mark on campus over the decades, as an athlete, class officer and friend to so many of his classmates. Jack served as a longtime member of the Board of Trustees (2005-2014), an Alumni of the Year recipient (2015), a reunion co-chair, a member of the Career Advisory Network, and a member of the Heritage Circle for planned estate gifts. Jack's service and generosity to Saint Michael's have been unceasing.

Jack graduated from the Catholic University of America with his J.D. in 1973, and had a long career as a successful attorney and founding partner of his Burlington law office. Jack and his siblings run the Bergeron Family Foundation, which gives generously to numerous causes and organizations that the family holds dear.

A Scholarship Recipient's Heartfelt Thanks

"I remember each spring when the College would give us the chance to write a thank you note for our scholarships. I appreciated the venue because the scholarships are what made SMC possible for me. I wanted the small liberal arts campus with a community feel. I wanted a place where I would be supported in my desire to do service work. I remember touring one fall day and walking through the Saint Edmund's courtyard with the leaves swirling (it was also where my husband, Brian '03, and I took wedding pictures after we were married in the chapel). It was what sold me; I knew it was where I was meant to be.

"While at SMC, I was able to work in the bookstore, be an RA and RC, go on three service trips, and participate in multiple LEAP retreats. While I certainly worked my way through college, the support of the scholarship made it so I still could have time for the learning and connections that took place outside of the classroom.

"Now, I serve through my work. I serve as a principal in a low-income rural community in New Hampshire and I love it. While it certainly has its shares of difficulty when trying to pass a budget, I know I am needed. After SMC, I went on to get my Master's in Education and just completed a CAGS in Educational Leadership. I know the drive to learn will never really stop. I'm so thankful to the Bergeron Family for their support of my education."
—Danielle Beckert Harvey, '04

A Word of Gratitude From President Lorraine Sterritt

“We are delighted to honor the lasting legacy and impact of the Bergeron family, in thanksgiving for their immense generosity and 85 consecutive years of involvement and devotion to Saint Michael’s College. From the 1930s when Ben first stepped on campus to Jack’s Golden Knight reunion year and beyond, we are inspired by their family, which so greatly values higher education and generously shares that opportunity with others.”
—President Lorraine Sterritt

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

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A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Saint Michael’s College a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

“I give, bequeath, and devise to Saint Michael’s College, an educational organization established by law at One Winooski Park, Box 256, Colchester, Vermont 05439, whose Federal Tax ID number is 03-0179403 [here follows the dollar amount or percentage of the gift, or an accurate description of the securities, insurance policies, retirement funds, or the amount or percentage of the residual estate, or the real estate or other assets given].”

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A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

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the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Saint Michael's College or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Saint Michael's College as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Saint Michael's College as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Saint Michael's College where you agree to make a gift to Saint Michael's College and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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