David Padget (’94 BBA)

Teaching the Lessons of a Lifetime

How do we learn generosity? Laura Linden (’28 BA L&S French, Italian, ’29 MA L&S French) thinks example is the most memorable teacher. As a high school educator herself for 49 years, she knows a bit about delivering lessons that last a lifetime. Just two years shy of her 100th birthday, Laura is still teaching by example.

Perhaps her dearest pupil is her niece, Nancy Nicholas (’55 HEC). Nancy and her husband, Ab (’52 BS L&S, ’55 MBA BUS), are devoted supporters of the UW-Madison.

Recently, Nancy honored her aunt with a gift to the School of Human Ecology’s 100 Women campaign. Laura is one of the first exceptional women formally recognized in this ongoing campaign as embodying the School’s mission of improving the quality of human life and who are helping to build an expanded and improved facility for the School and its students.

To be effective, a teacher must connect with students. Laura had the knack. She proudly shows visitors to the pleasant nursing home where she now lives, a birthday card she received from someone she taught 60 years ago. “I must have had some influence,” she said with a giggle.

Laura continues to connect with young people. Several years ago, seventh-graders at Winnequah Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin, interviewed a group of senior citizens and wrote biographies, which they made into books. The three teenage girls assigned to Laura titled their hand-illustrated publication, “The Joy of Giving.” Clearly they picked out the recurring theme in Laura’s life story.

It may not be quite that expansive, but it is extensive. Laura’s gifts to the UW-Madison range from scholarships to building projects, from medical and health programs to the Arboretum and environmental initiatives. “There is always a personal reason for each gift,” she said. For example, the poster of the Badger women’s basketball team on the door of her room is indicative of her enthusiastic support for Badger athletics and the marching band and hearkens back to Laura’s own youth.

When choosing to make a gift, Laura relies on three major influences: memories of her happy student years, the importance of making education accessible and programs in the greatest need of support.

Laura Linden’s life is a fascinating story of one person’s experiences over the dramatic change that marked the 20th century. She was born during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. As a teacher of languages, she gave literally thousands of students a means to communicate with and understand other cultures. She traveled the world, often by herself, and had a few hair-raising adventures. She enjoyed the love and companionship of family and friends. And, she set an example of generosity and kindness that will last many lifetimes.