Download the Summer 2004 PDF - Augsburg College

Barber gift to go to Science CenterLoren Barber’s extensive history in thesciences has resulted in a most generousgift of $50,000 from Barber and hiswife, Mary Quanbeck Barber ’77, to beused for the new Science Center. And3M, Barber’s employer for many yearswhere he served as a corporate scientist,is making the Barbers’ gift even moremeaningful through a $25,000 matchinggift. In addition, the Barbers aremembers of the Maroon & SilverSociety, providing annual support toAugsburg’s students.Even after Barber retired from 3M in2001, he wasn’t ready to let go of hiswork in the sciences, and he continuedto work two days a week for a couple ofyears. Barber is used to hard work;raised on 160 acres in upstate NewYork, he attended the RochesterInstitute of Technology on a cooperativeSite plan of new Science Center.work-study program at Eastman KodakCompany with a major in chemistry.That combination of school and workexperience made his studies moremeaningful and led him to Ames, Iowa,where he received his Ph.D. Eventually,Barber arrived in Minnesota, andAugsburg is very fortunate he did.Science education is very important toBarber and he provides leadership onAugsburg’s Science Advisory Board.Mary Barber has strong connectionsto Augsburg, beginning with her father,Philip Quanbeck Sr., a distinguishedprofessor of theology who attendedAugsburg College and Seminary andsubsequently joined the faculty in the1950s. In his retirement from Augsburg,he serves as visitation pastor atBethlehem Lutheran Church and is aMary and Loren Barber’s gift to the ScienceCenter is enhanced by corporate matching.member of the Augsburg InstitutionalAdvancement staff. Mary’s brother,Philip Quanbeck II, is also a prominentprofessor of theology at Augsburg.Mary Barber received her B.A. inEnglish from Augsburg and her M.A. inspeech pathology from Michigan StateUniversity. She serves the North St.Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale schools astheir speech-language pathologist specializingin early childhood education.“Our gift is rooted in our strongbelief in supporting scientific literacy inour society and increasing awareness ofhow science affects each of our lives,”Loren Barber said.The Barbers were married 10 yearsago and recently purchased a home onLake Vermilion. They share a passionfor the outdoors, water, and the environment,and Loren has discovered anew avocation—building canoes.For information about making yourScience Center gift, contact theDevelopment office at 612-330-1462. ■8