Providing the Same Life-Changing Experience

I am Cindy Burnim, née Gallagher, a history/social studies major from Hartwick's class of 1968. As a high school student in Boston, Massachusetts, I was torn between choosing a large or small college, but when I saw Hartwick I knew it was perfect. It turned out to be a precious, life-changing experience, one that opened up new ways of seeing the world. My husband Peter and I met as summer-camp counselors during college.

We married in 1970 and moved to New York City where Peter worked for Citibank, and I worked on my master's degree in special education at Fordham University. I later received my Montessori teacher diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute in England, while Peter worked at Citibank's London office. We have raised three wonderful children, participated in raising four beautiful grandchildren, traveled extensively, and made special friendships along the way. Now settled in Fairfield, Connecticut, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary this June!

I've had a rich and varied career in education, teaching secondary-school history, elementary special education, and finally finding my passion as a Montessori teacher working with children 3 to 6 years of age. I founded Great Beginnings Montessori School in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1996 where I taught and was head of school until I retired in 2018. I remain active on the school's board and in other volunteer activities in the town.

Our estate planning ensures that we provide for our family as well as the causes and institutions that we value, including our alma maters. We make annual gifts from our charitable gift fund or as required minimum distributions from our IRAs, and we have included Hartwick College as a beneficiary of our charitable remainder unitrust.

My 50th reunion in 2018 was a weekend to remember—getting together with former classmates and seeing all the exciting changes at Hartwick under President Drugovich's inspired leadership. By including Hartwick in our estate planning we are helping ensure that the College continues to provide new opportunities to students.

Like Cindy, you can provide for loved ones and support future Hartwick students with a gift in your estate plan. To learn more, please contact Patricia Dopazo at 607-431-4020 or dopazop@hartwick.edu.