UMaine’s Hutchinson Center, Other Community Groups Beneficiaries of Marilyn Duane Estate
The University of Maine Hutchinson Center will receive $500,000 from the estate of Belfast, Maine resident Marilyn Duane to benefit scholarships and outreach efforts.
The gift will be one of four presented April 15 during a meeting of the Belfast Rotary Club at the Hutchinson Center. A total of $2 million is being awarded from the estate of Marilyn Duane to four organizations: UMaine’s Hutchinson Center, United Mid-Coast Charities, Belfast Rotary Club and the Boy Scouts of America.
Marilyn Johnson Duane grew up in Bangor, the daughter of Dr. Henry and Dorothy Carlton Johnson. Marilyn and her late husband, James T. Duane, retired to Belfast in 1987. James was an early computer engineer, who worked for General Electric and was a member of the Belfast Rotary Club. Marilyn was a member of the Belfast Garden Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The couple strongly believed in supporting scholarships, according to attorney and friend Lee Woodward, who is handling Marilyn Duane’s estate with co-personal representative Cindy Klewin.
Marilyn was inspired by the work of UMaine alumnus James Patterson, the founding director of the Hutchinson Center and member of the Belfast Rotary, who she said opened the door for students to access quality, affordable higher education in a supportive, flexible environment. With the gift from the Marilyn Duane estate, three funds have been established:
- The James C. Patterson Scholarship Fund will award scholarships to nonmatriculated students served by the Hutchinson Center who are enrolled in a University of Maine undergraduate or graduate coursework.
- The Marilyn Duane Scholarship Fund will benefit University of Maine System matriculated students with financial need who are served by the Hutchinson Center.
- The Marilyn and James T. Duane Community Outreach Fund focuses on creating access to lifelong learning opportunities that otherwise would not be available. The fund will be used for educational programming at the Hutchinson Center for personal enrichment, professional development, continuing education and/or early college opportunities at reduced or no cost to participants.
Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745