Planned giving is way of giving back for distinguished ASME member

Robert Bennett is adding Benefactor to the many titles he has held during his long and distinguished career with ASME. He again demonstrated his dedication to the Society by making a bequest to the ASME Foundation and Auxiliary in his will.

"The bequest is my way of thanking ASME for all the pleasures that I have had while being a member for over 55 years," said Bennett, who is also a founding member of the ASME Foundation's Archimedes Club. The club is a gift recognition unit that joins colleagues who have made legacy gifts to the ASME Foundation.

"The use of one's will to make a bequest is the most popular form of making a planned gift," said David Soukup, the Foundation's executive director. "It affords the potential savings of estate taxes, while providing for a legacy, too."

Robert A. Bennett

Prior to the Archimedes Club's establishment in 2003, at least 26 bequests had been made to the Foundation, with a total gift amount of $3.3 million. At least 30 of the 39 current Archimedes Club members have made planned gifts in the form of a bequest. Anyone who would like sample language to use in making a bequest can contact Warren Leonard at (212) 591-7846 or e-mail leonardw@asme.org.

Bennett first learned of ASME as a youngster in Forest Hills, N.Y. His next-door neighbor was a mechanical engineering graduate of Stevens Institute who was active in ASME's Metropolitan Section and worked in the power industry. Over the years, there were many discussions between the two families, Bennett said. Those conversations inspired Bennett and his brother to follow a career in mechanical engineering.

After graduating from Cornell University, Bennett joined ASME in 1947. He went to work for the Long Island Lighting Co. in 1948.

His wife, Irma, was also very active in the ASME Auxiliary. She served as president and chair of its Rice-Cullimore Scholarship Committee. Bennett took over the committee chairmanship after Irma's death in 1998. He still holds that position.

Besides being an ASME Life Fellow, Bennett is currently a trustee for the Staff Pension Plan Committee. He served as ASME secretary and treasurer for 17 years, as well as vice president of Region II. In addition, he was an ASME representative to the Hoover Medal Board of Award and received the ASME Dedicated Service Award.

Bennett is very optimistic about the future of the mechanical engineering profession. "Engineers have always played an important role in this country and I have no reason to believe that it will be any less so in the future," he said. "There are so many new technologies being developed that will require engineers to reach their potential."

For more information on setting up a bequest or other planned giving opportunities, call Warren Leonard at (212) 591-7846 or e-mail leonardw@asme.org.

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