Dr. Richard Gillespie and Dr. Maravene Loeschke '69/'71

Dr. Richard Gillespie and Dr. Maravene Loeschke ’69/’71

The late Dr. Maravene Loeschke '69/'71 was Towson University's 13th president. She and her late husband Dr. Richard Gillespie, emeriti, were charter members of the Tower Light Society.

"It was a natural choice to include the Towson University Foundation in our estate plans given how Towson has shaped and been at the center of our lives," Dr. Loeschke said. "I decided to attend Towson because of the newly created theater major being offered and advertised to local high schools by then-professor Dr. Richard Gillespie."

Dr. Gillespie started the theater major at Towson University and was instrumental in securing the fine arts building in 1969. He also served as a Dean of Students under former President James Fisher.

"Towson was where I was able to serve students and create a program in the arts that had a strong liberal arts base and expectations of high artistic excellence," said Dr. Gillespie.

President Loeschke credited Towson for much of her professional success. "My education and experiences at Towson University laid the solid foundation for anything I have ever accomplished," Dr. Loeschke said.