Bequest honors professors who saw alumnus’s true colors
Even as a boy, it was clear that Van MacDonald was brilliant, but odd.
He was a math and science whiz fascinated by physics yet confounded by social interactions.
When enrolled as a physics major at CU-Boulder in the late ’50s, he had the advantage of remarkable intelligence and the handicap of social awkwardness.
Clearly different from his peers, MacDonald struggled to suppress outbursts and maintain self-control while pursuing one of the university’s most challenging and prestigious major tracks.
Fortunately, MacDonald had several patient professors who took him under their wing. Though they may not always have understood his behavior, they recognized his great potential and assisted MacDonald in his desire to excel and graduate.
It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that MacDonald was correctly diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a developmental disability that had previously been little understood. Finally helped by the proper medication, MacDonald again worked hard to overcome the challenges of Asperger’s, and manage the traits he both understood and hated.
By that time MacDonald had been a longtime employee at Bayaud Enterprises, a progressive Denver employment services program, where MacDonald was a staff assistant for most of his 39 years there. He was mentored by Director David Henninger, who became a lifelong friend.
“Van had a truly unique life that combined brilliance with struggle. He always sought to improve himself and ‘fit in’,” according to Henninger.
MacDonald, who passed away in May, was ever-grateful to those who helped him on his journey. He never forgot faculty members W.E. Brittin, and W.A. Rense, whose steadfast support helped MacDonald pursue his passion for physics.
Though he made very little money from his life’s work, MacDonald chose to honor his professors with a $40,000 bequest to CU, designated to help physics students with similar mental or physical challenges.
As his brother Bill MacDonald notes, “This was a very big donation from his perspective. Education was very important to Van, and his professors at CU gave him a chance and allowed him to get where he did.”
Now other worthy physics students will have some help on their journey, thanks to MacDonald—and some very special professors.
This article originally appeared in Creating Futures, a publication produced by the CU Foundation. It is reprinted with permission. For more information on planned giving, contact Carroll Christman, senior director of development at the CU Foundation at 303-541-1450 orcarroll.christman@cufund.org.
