The wife of a former vice chancellor for business affairs for the Oregon University System left $925,000 for Oregon higher education.
The woman who left the inheritance, Jessie May Bork, was the wife of deceased Herbert Bork, who worked for OUS. Bork lived in Eugene until her death in April 2005.
The inheritance will be used as a permanent endowment for OUS.
Bork’s will directed that the endowment earnings from the gift be used to “improve the quality of education and research” of the Department of Higher Education, according to an OUS press release.
“The Borks’ generosity will be a legacy to the state that will benefit our public universities, its students, faculty and communities in very important ways,” said George Pernsteiner, chancellor of OUS in the press release.
“It also will help spur on the academic inquiry and innovation that is at the heart of much of the progress in our society,” he said.