February 7, 2010
An Epic Fund-Raising Journey Culminates in an Author’s Multi-Million Dollar Bequest
Reed College
During his lifetime, David Eddings focused on writing his best-selling fantasy books--and maintaining some privacy. After his death in June, he surprised two nonprofit organizations with large bequests.
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Reed College
During his lifetime, David Eddings focused on writing his best-selling fantasy books--and maintaining some privacy. After his death in June, he surprised two nonprofit organizations with large bequests.
For officials at Reed College, winning a big donation from David Eddings (No. 31 on The Chronicle’s Philanthropy 50) may have sometimes felt like an epic odyssey of the sort faced by characters in the author’s fantasy novels.
Mr. Eddings, who died last June at age 77, attended Reed on a scholarship. He studied English, graduating in 1954. And then he dropped out of the college’s sight.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that he resurfaced, on The
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