The late Anne Putnam Mallinson ’61 loved the sense of community and friendship that she found at Chatham. Eight years after her passing, her husband William Mallinson kept the generosity she showed to Chatham during her life going strong. In 2009, Bill established the Anne Putnam Mallinson ’61 Endowed Scholarship, which each year helps students attain a Chatham education–and experience the strong sense of community and friendship that meant so much to Anne.
Bill made another tremendous show of support for Chatham, this time for the Eden Hall Campus. A $1 million commitment to the 388-acre campus will help its continued development and, like the Anne Putnam Mallinson Pond at the Shadyside Campus, memorialize Anne’s legacy for posterity.
After considering several options for naming at Eden Hall, Bill thought the Dairy Barn Café best represented what Anne loved about Chatham. With his gift, the café will be called the Anne Mallinson Café in her memory. “It’s a gathering place. Not just for students but for people using the amphitheater,” Bill said.
During her life, Anne was involved in numerous community organizations, from the Warren County Historical Society to her local theater group. Bill hoped that the sense of community she valued so highly is part of the café. “She would be thrilled to know that something with her name on the door is being used by the existing University community, the alumni organization, and community organizations,” he said.
As Anne’s memory continues to make a difference at Eden Hall, Chatham students continue to benefit from the Mallinsons’ generosity through the scholarship in Anne’s name. Bill hoped that by supporting scholarships that allow students to pursue their dreams through higher education, it would expose those same students to the benefits of philanthropy. That in turn could lead to them helping students who were just like them when they can. “The seed has been planted,” he said. Bill sadly passed away on October 25, 2021.