Kopps make bequest for scholarship endowment

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The Kopps Smiling

The Kopps

Marv (SMHS '62; SMC '65) and Mary Kopp met at a Saint Martin's High School dance during Marv's freshman year in 1959 when girls from St. Leo's High School in Tacoma came to the Lacey campus. Mary Papacek from St. Leo's was there with her twin sister, Margie. However, Marv and Mary never saw each other again until after high school graduation.

That early introduction set the stage for a romance during Marv's Saint Martin's College years and their marriage in 1965, soon after his graduation. And Marv wasn't the only one smitten by a Papacek twin! His close SMHS and College friend, Al Eckroth, married Margie in the same "double ring" ceremony! Now, nearly 50 years later, the couples are generous financial and volunteer supporters of Saint Martin's and attend many campus events each year.

Marv and Mary with students

Bequest donors Marv and Mary Kopp visit with freshman students outside Spangler Hall during orientation activities before the start of fall semester classes.

Marv's time in the College also launched his professional career in the food service and restaurant industry. An education major, he planned to become a teacher; however, while a student he worked for Saint Martin's food service provider, Saga. After graduation, the company offered him a good job in management training. That led to various jobs around the country, including vice president for human resources with the Stuart Anderson and Hardee's restaurant chains.

When it came time to do a revision of their wills in 2003, Marv and Mary Kopp made a generous bequest that, upon their deaths, will give a percentage of their estate to the University to create the Marvin and Mary Kopp Scholarship Endowment. That perpetual fund will be administered under an agreement with the University that is on file with the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Why this estate plan? Marv explained that Saint Martin's environment has a lot to do with it. "This place really reinforced the values I grew up with...practicing the Catholic faith, working hard and treating people well. The Benedictines certainly helped foster those values in me, and my professional career began here. Mary and I want to help keep Saint Martin's values and traditions alive by providing scholarship opportunities to future students."

You, like the Kopps, can make a difference for future Saint Martin’s students. To learn more, contact Nate Peters, MBA at NPeters@stmartin.edu or (360) 438-4367.