Small Town News

A billionaire boosts Lewes academy in a record year

---

What does it take to get an educational institution named after you? A million dollars or two is usually helpful.

After 22 years as the Southern Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning, the popular educational program for people 50 years old and older is now known as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes. Bernard Osher, on the Forbes Magazine's billionaires' list, made his fortune with his Golden West Financial company and the Butterfield and Butterfield auction house. According to Forbes, Osher, 78, has no heirs and plans to'give away his entire fortune. "I hope I live long enough to do it," the generous philanthropist has been quoted as saying.

Osher has a particular fondness for educational programs. His name is attached to lifelong learning institutions in states throughout the nation. University of Delaware seized the opportunity to take advantage of Osher's initiatives and agreed to rename its lifelong learning academies following receipt of a million-dollar grant. The agreement also includes a second million-dollar grant in the near future.

The change of name and additional resources come at a time when the Lewes academy is at the peak of its popularity. "We started this new year with 454 members," said Senior Secretary Renee Moy. "That's an all-time high for us."

The members started classes on Monday this week with more than 50 different courses and an equal number of faculty members. The members are taking everything from yoga, pottery, tai chi and English country dance to applied ethics and a wide variety of history and humanities courses. Almost all of the courses are taught in classrooms in the Lewes School on Savannah Road through a lease arrangement between Cape Henlopen School District and University of Delaware. Two exceptions are a pottery class being taught at Rehoboth Art League in Henlopen Acres and a wine-tasting class offered at Bin 66 in Rehoboth Beach.

According to Program Coordinator Anna Moshier, the university's southern Delaware academy - an echo of an upstate version - started out 22 years ago in Milford before moving to the Virden Center at the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes. The program quickly outgrew that space and moved next to the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park before moving into the Lewes School seven years ago. The new lease signed this year has the institute in the Lewes School for another three years.

For $195 per year, or $120 for one semester, members can take as many classes as they want. Or they can pay $40 for a summer session. The only requirement is that members be at least 50 years old, or be married to a member who is at least 50. "Classes are held Monday through Thursday," said Moshi-er. "A lot of our members have family come in for the weekends and the traffic gets a little

tougher on Fridays."

For those of us, no matter how old, who still think that September means it's time to go back to school, the Osher Institute offers a particularly refreshing aspect: no homework and no tests. No wonder Bernie Osher feels so good about giving his hard-earned dollars to programs like these.

Moshier said the oldest member this year is a 91-year old woman who signs up for lots of classes and attends them faithfully. 'It's a great social environment for everyone. I'm 42," said Moshier, "and what I'm learning is how people grow old gracefully - by keeping themselves active mentally and physically."





© 2010 Cape Gazette Lewes, Delaware. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Cape Gazette