After graduating from Bentley, almost half a century passed before Ed Secher ’70 returned to campus — 48 years that bore witness to a successful career, the joys of raising three children with his wife, Fernanda, and the thrill of welcoming seven grandchildren.

“I wanted to re-connect with Bentley — to learn about the Bentley of today,” Ed says. In 2018, he attended a campus event that highlighted the university’s 21st-century academics, innovative initiatives and state-of-the-art facilities. During lunch, Ed talked with Bentley students. “They were so impressive and mature. They worked hard, Bentley prepared them well and they knew what they wanted to do.”

As the son of a bookkeeper father who had taken some Bentley courses himself, Ed had both a knack for finances and the determination to earn a Bentley degree. Money was tight, but Ed closed the gap needed to fund his education by living at home, working part-time and taking loans. A generous $1,000 gift from his grandmother, fondly remembered and greatly appreciated, eased Ed’s burden.

After graduating, Ed’s first position was with GTE Sylvania in Needham, Mass. He advanced within the company throughout its mergers and acquisitions, eventually retiring as CFO of General Dynamics in Taunton, Mass. and Scottsdale, Ariz. His days are now filled with golfing, boating and enjoying life with his family in Buzzards Bay, Mass. and Naples, Fla.

In the final years of his career, Ed established a donor-advised fund account, a popular way for donors to set aside assets for future charitable giving. He and Fernanda now make distributions from it each year to support charitable organizations meaningful to them, like Bentley.

Having put their children through college and started 529 college savings plans for each of their grandchildren, Ed and Fernanda believe that “education is the greatest gift that you can give to your family.” Earlier this year, while updating his estate plan, Ed included a provision to direct the final balance of his donor-advised fund to support scholarships for Bentley students.

“Young people who work hard and have financial need deserve the opportunity to obtain the great education Bentley provides,” he says. “With a scholarship, they won’t have to struggle so much. They can use their education to fully develop their talents and enjoy life.”