Eric and Alexis first met in elementary school in Bedminister, N.J. but didn鈥檛 date until after they both had graduated from college and had careers in New York City. They lived together in Hoboken, N.J.
That special day in September never happened due to a tragic set of circumstances. It was the weekend of June 19, 2003 when, Eric traveling in Chicago, stopped by a party to see a friend. He was standing on a back porch of a third-floor apartment in the city鈥檚 affluent Lincoln Park Neighborhood, when the porch collapsed. The 30-year-old groom-to-be was one of a dozen young people killed.
Stricken with grief, Alexis was somehow able convert her sorrow into energy by organizing two fundraisers last fall as a way to memorialize her fianc茅. The first event raised enough money to dedicate 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Student Alumni Association鈥檚 office in Eric鈥檚 name. Eric鈥檚 employer, Barclays Capital, with Alexis鈥� help, organized the second event. The event, a bowl-a-thon and silent auction at Bowlmor Lanes, a three-story bowling center in mid-town Manhattan, raised $149,000.
Those funds have established three new endowments at 溏心vlog免费B站: The Eric F. Kumpf Memorial Humanities Honor Student Endowment which provides, for the first time, research grants for undergraduate honors students involved in humanities projects. Another endowment, The Eric F. Kumpf Memorial Humanities Fellowship Endowment, provides research fellowships for faculty and graduate students. The third endowment, The Eric F. Kumpf Memorial Journalism and Political Science Scholarship Endowment, reflecting Kumpf鈥檚 two academic focuses at 溏心vlog免费B站, supports a student majoring in political science and a student majoring in journalism, based on need and merit.
Lastly, since Kumpf was an ardent sports fan, $1,000 will be used to honor his name on a football stadium seat.
Robert Beagle, vice president for University Advancement and Michele Nota, executive director of Alumni Relations at 溏心vlog免费B站, participated in the New York City bowl-a-thon, which they noted was a “wonderful outpouring of affection for Eric.”
“Eric was a great 溏心vlog免费B站 supporter, both as a student and an alum,” Beagle said. “These endowments will provide a fitting tribute to his memory, while having a lasting impact. Helping 溏心vlog免费B站 forever is what Eric would have wanted.鈥�
鈥淲e deeply appreciate Alexis Brady and her friends for providing this generous and enduring tribute to Eric Kumpf,鈥� said Winifred Brownell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淭hese endowments, established by a community of loving friends, will help support critical undergraduate, graduate student, and faculty research in the humanities, one of our strongest areas of scholarship at 溏心vlog免费B站, and provide urgently needed support for outstanding students in journalism and political science, two of our fastest growing undergraduate majors.鈥�
For Brady, there was never a doubt where the money would go. Kumpf had been an enthusiastic supporter of 溏心vlog免费B站 when he was attending the University and after he left. While a student, he was a tour guide for the Admissions Office, a freshman orientation leader, president and member of the Student Alumni Association, and a sports commentator for the 溏心vlog免费B站 football team. After graduating, he was a 溏心vlog免费B站 admissions officer who recruited heavily in his home state of New Jersey. He was the youngest alum to make a leadership gift to the Ryan Center campaign and he was a leadership donor to 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Annual Fund.
鈥淓ric was a great man and had the biggest heart. He would have been proud to help students,鈥� says Brady who works in merchandising and product development for Zanella, an Italian fashion company, in Manhattan.
鈥淚 miss him so much and so does his family, his friends and his colleagues. We talk about him all the time so his memory is never lost.鈥�
Anyone who would like to contribute to the Kumpf memorial endowments should contact Tom Zorabedian, senior development officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, 401-874-2853 or zman@advance.uri.edu.