STETSON-LETTER
VOL. 9, NO. 1
STETSON UNIVERSITY, DELAND, FLORIDA
NOVEMBER, 1960
NEARLY QUARTER MILLION
PROVIDED BY WIDOW'S BEQUEST
James Avison
AVISON NAMED NEW
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI
James O. Avison, 633 Tarn O'Shanter
Dr., Orlando, has been appointed director of alumni affairs at Stetson University
effective Dec. 1, according to Dr. ]. Ollie
Edmunds, president.
Since 1959, the new alumni director
has been executive director for the Associated Florida Private Colleges Fund, the
state association which combines the efforts of Stetson, Rollins College, Florida
Southern College, and Barry College toward preserving independent higher education.
Avison received his B.A. degree in political science from the University of Richmond in 1949. He attended public school
in New York City and graduated from
Morehead City High School, Morehead
City, N. C.
From 1950 to 1952, Avison was on the
staff of the Richmond, Va., area Community Chest. He joined the public rela-
Nearly a quarter of a million dollars has been left to Stetson University
by a DeLeon Springs widow who became interested in the educational opportunities provided at the DeLand campus.
By terms of the will of Mrs. G. C. H. Van Der Heyden, funds totaling
$100,000 were provided for scholarships and the residue of the estate, estimated as between $125,000 and $150,000, for construction of educational
buildings at DeLand. The scholarships were designated "for worthy students
of all faiths."
The will was admitted to probate Sept. 29 at the Volusia County courthouse. The Barnett National Bank of Jacksonville was named executor.
Mrs. Van Der Heyden had no direct connection with the university,
but developed an interest through the years. She frequently attended campus
music concerts. According to friends, she was an unassuming woman who
showed quiet consideration of others. In her will, she specifically asked no
repayment to her estate from any recipients of gifts, and no accounting from
individuals or institutions. She asked that no building bear her name.
Mrs. Van Der Heyden died Sept. 27 and her husband 12 years ago. The
couple came to this country from Holland where Mr. Van Der Heyden was
prominent in financial and law circles.
The DeLeon Springs widow became interested in student financial
needs at Stetson at a time when the university began building new dorms.
She became concerned that money also should be provided for buildings
devoted directly to educational needs.
The wording of the bequests to Stetson in the will signed Jan. 3, 1957
by Grietje Gesina Hendrika Van Der Heyden is as follows:
"I give and bequeath to John B. Stetson University, of DeLand, Florida, the sum of
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00v to be set apart as a fund to provide scholarships for worthy students of all faiths."
"All of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, of every
nature and wherever situate, of which I may die seized or possessed, I give, devise and
bequeath to John B. Stetson University of DeLand, Florida, to be used for the construction
of educational buildings on the campus of said University in DeLand, Florida. I direct that
no such building or buildings be named for me."
tions department, then moved up to become assistant director.
From 1953 to 1958, Avison was a fund-
raising director for Marts and Lundy nc,
New York City. He was the head of various capital-fund campaigns, primarily
for colleges. Some of the institutions he
served were Grinnell College, Wofford College, Union Theological Seminary (Richmond) , Presbyterian Junior College, and
Randolph-Macon College. He also con
ducted campaigns for the Chestnut Avenue Methodist Church, Newport News,
Va., and the Rochester Children's Nursery,
Rochester, N.Y.
As executive director of the Fund for
Florida private colleges, Avison set up the
office, built a board of directors, and
started member colleges on the way toward raising annual funds from business
and industry for the support of faculty
salaries.
