ASME Foundation loses a benefactor, but future generations will thrive

Emily M. Smith
ASME NEWS

Leighton Orr's interest in the properties of fractured glass earned him national renown among engineering professionals. His determination to preserve that interest for future generations recently earned him a place in ASME Foundation history for what will become a record-breaking gift.

Working as a consultant until two months before his death in April at age 97, Orr's gift to the Foundation will top $1 million. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Cabot, Pa.

Leighton Orr

Together with his wife, Orr was a Founding Member of the Archimedes Club, which was created in 2003. The Orrs became Club members at the Gold Level, which is reserved for those with gifts between $500,000 and $1 million.

The Orrs made an additional planned gift to the ASME Foundation in the form of a Charitable Remainder Trust. When both are fully realized, the Orrs will be elevated to the Platinum Level of membership in the Archimedes Club, which is reserved for those bestowing Foundation gifts of $1 million and above.

(See the related story in this issue of ASME NEWS.)

Orr, who became an ASME Life Fellow a generation ago, was a Society member for more than 60 years. He headed the physical testing at PPG Industries Research Laboratory in Pittsburgh and retired in 1972. He continued to work as a consultant up until February 2004, handling more than 900 assignments in total.

The bequest techniques used by the Orrs included two outright gifts of cash that collectively broke the record in gift size to the Foundation. Additionally, the planned giving technique of a Charitable Remainder Trust was used to further the gift and will be fully realized in the future.

The earnings from the endowment, which was established in 1999, have been used to promote Orr's personal interests — fracture analysis, cause of failures, technical communications and promoting technology among young people.

Part of the endowment has been used to establish the Leighton E. and Margaret W. Orr Award for contributions to the literature on fractures and failure investigations.

For details about making a Planned Gift to the ASME Foundation, visit www.foundation.asme.org. ASME seminars on the planned giving process are occurring regularly. For dates and locations, contact Warren Leonard at (212) 591-7846 or e-mail leonardw@asme.org.

 

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