University of Maine Hutchinson Center receives second gift from the estate of Marilyn Duane

The University of Maine Hutchinson Center has received a second disbursement for $450,000 from the estate of Belfast, Maine resident Marilyn Duane to benefit scholarships and outreach efforts.

Duane’s attorney and friend Lee Woodward presented an initial disbursement of $500,000 to the Hutchinson Center on April 15. Woodward, who is handling Marilyn Duane’s estate with co-personal representative Cindy MacLeod-Klewin, anticipates that, when the estate is settled, the proceeds will total just over $1 million to the Hutchinson Center for scholarships.

“The Marilyn Duane Scholarships will make higher education more affordable and accessible than ever before for people in the mid-coast region who want to start or complete a University of Maine degree,” said University of Maine President Susan J. Hunter. “Marilyn’s generosity and vision have the potential to change the lives of countless students.”

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.

Marilyn was inspired by the work of UMaine alumnus James Patterson, founding director of the Hutchinson Center and a member of the Belfast Rotary, who she said opened the door for students to access quality, affordable higher education in a supportive, flexible environment.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we deeply appreciate the support the Duane Estate has provided Belfast’s Hutchinson Center,” said University of Maine System Chancellor James H. Page. “This gift acknowledges the significant contributions the center is making in the mid-coast region, and it contributes to our efforts to make university programing more affordable and accessible for the people of Maine.”

With the gifts from the Marilyn Duane estate, three funds have been established:

• The James C. Patterson Scholarship Fund will award scholarships to non-matriculated 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.

“Marilyn Duane has provided an incredible scholarship legacy for mid-coast students served by the Fred Hutchinson Center of the University of Maine,” Patterson said. “I am honored to be mentioned as one of the team working to develop the Hutchinson Center into the community resource it is today.”

Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745