How One Alumnus and His Wife Are Remembering the Academy Through Their Estate Plans...
Generous Bequest from Harvey Freedman ’57 Will Establish Scholarship Fund
“…because of my gratitude for what the Academy did for me personally and professionally”
Harvey Freedman would tell you he has led a “fortunate” life. He was raised in a family of meager means by loving parents who valued education highly. At their urging, Harvey tested and received a partial scholarship to The Columbus Academy. After graduating from CA in 1957, Freedman enrolled in The Ohio State University where he continued to excel -- he completed an undergraduate degree, went on to medical school, served as a varsity cheerleader for the Buckeyes and met the love of his life Deana. Harvey and Deana subsequently married and were “blessed with two extraordinary sons.”
The Vietnam War interrupted the young doctor’s career path and family life, but Freedman rose to the challenge. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a surgeon and was awarded a Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor for his work. Captain Freedman returned home to his family where a fellowship from The Mayo Clinic awaited. Along with this fellowship in otorhinolaryngology, he spent the next 25 years in private practice, with hospital stints as Chief of Staff, Chief of Surgery and Chief of an ENT Section. Today, Harvey keeps busy as an active father and grandfather, a consultant to The Mayo Clinic, a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in San Francisco, a golfer, a gardener and -- of course -- a devoted husband.
“The Academy’s caring teachers and challenging curriculum fostered a lifelong love of learning in addition to preparing me well for a career in medicine. I always knew that if I could, I wanted to give back to express my deep gratitude for what I learned at Columbus Academy. It is my hope, and Deana’s, that establishing a scholarship for a deserving student interested in the life sciences will do the same for someone who otherwise would be unable to attend an institution of such excellence.” With this thought in mind, the Freedman’s established a bequest in their will that will fund the scholarship.
Columbus Academy is grateful to the Freedmans for their foresight. Surely someday a future alumna/us doctor will thank them, too.
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