Peter '57 and Ruth '58 Nunn: Giving Back to Susquehanna

They met at Susquehanna, where Pete was a Phi Mu Delta brother and an accounting major and Ruth was an Alpha Delta Pi sister and a chemistry major. The Nunns were happily married for 65 years, and throughout that time they remained connected to their alma mater — both as volunteers and as donors.

"We have received so much from Susquehanna," Pete said in an earlier conversation with university staff. "Not only did we get a good education, but we also enjoyed great times there, found good job opportunities, made lifelong friendships, and established a great association with an outstanding institution. That's why we want to give back."

In 1996, Pete and Ruth have established The Peter M. and Ruth S. Nunn Charitable Remainder Unitrust which named Susquehanna as remainder beneficiary.

As Pete explained, "We chose a charitable remained unitrust because it offers several advantages that meet our needs. We can contribute each year over a long period of time; it allows us to convert assets into a lifelong income stream; we get a current tax deduction when we transfer assets into the trust; and placing assets in the trust removes them from our estate, and that will reduce our estate taxes."

According to Pete, establishing the charitable remainder unitrust was a win-win solution because it suited his and Ruth's estate-planning needs and would benefit Susquehanna as well.

"When we established our trust, we specified that its remaining value is to become part of Susquehanna's permanent unrestricted endowment," Pete said. "We think this is the best way to ensure that Susquehanna will be able to provide a high-quality education for its students for generations to come."

In addition to the university's endowment, the Nunns' philanthropic gifts also supported scholarships for Susquehanna students, university athletics, and various capital improvement projects. In recognition of their immense generosity and its advancement of the university's mission, Pete and Ruth were inducted into the Susquehanna Society.

Pete served as a member of Susquehanna's Board of Trustees for 35 years. He was recognized with the alumni association's achievement award in 1985, a service award in 1997, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the board when he retired in 2019.

Pete passed away in 2022. He is survived by Ruth and their two sons, Steven '81 and David.