Harry Leppek:
This man for others will be long remembered

By Marty Pujolar

Hany Leppek never attended classes here, but he loved Gonzaga's students and he loved our school. Over thepast 20 years, his heartfelt generosity and undaunted spirit helped the Alumni Association raise almost $500,000, which has helped more than 1,000 children of alumni afford a Gonzaga education.

The Alumni Association's best friend left us in February. He was an alumnus, an honorary one, Doctor of Laws 2001… and proud of it. But he was more than that.

Harry was a two‑degree grad of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He lovingly managed a law career of more than 60 years, plus his 60‑plus‑year marriage to Harriet. They had three daughters, Kathryn, Donna and Niece, the latter two Gonzaga grads. However, he was much more than that to Gonzaga.

Harry worked in a donut shop to put himself through college and law school. Later, he worked to help other students so they didn't have to do that.

Twenty years ago, the Alumni Associa­tion was looking for a way to create funds to help children of alumni continue and complete their Gonzaga education. We thought a car raffle might work.

We were told "Sure you can do it, just fund the grand prize first." Things were not looking good.

Enter the man from Los Angeles with a big heart, a huge smile and a large dose of generosity all packed into his 5-foot-4-inch frame.

In 1985, Harry and Harriet sent us a check for$ 10,000 and said "go do it' " The annual raffle started as a small affair in the COG the first Saturday of June. We learned a lot about fundraising events that day. Now it is held at the Bozarth Mansion with all of the bells and whistles. Last year~ the raffle brought in $29,000. It has come a long way and the Leppeks have been on the ride from the beginning.

I thought the seed money in Year 1 was it. Good luck, carry the ball. But no. Each year a check has arrived to offset the cost of the grand prize.

The raffle has raised almost $500,000. Along with other Association funds, almost 1,000 students have received over $1 million from the Association's Scholarship Fund. One‑thousand students benefited from the generosity of people 1,500 miles away who stepped up when the Association was most in need and for students who needed a hand.

Each year, the student gathering the most votes from the scholarship selection committee is awarded $5,000 and named the Harry and Harriet Leppek Scholar. Their name goes on a plaque in the Alumni House. Harry once told me the plaque was a bit much. He would have been happy if no one knew. I told him the plaque was where everyone could see it because we need positive images for those who follow.

Maybe my favorite image of Harry was following the first raffle. We were driving him home, in the rain - in a convertible. He was in the back seat, wearing a beautiful suit, great fie, that big smile of his, laughing and telling us what a great event it was (it was OK) and how things were just going to get better.

They surely did get better. It helped to have Harry and Harriet on the journey with us.