Dennis and Elizabeth Huss have spent their lives helping others. So it seemed natural for them to make provisions in their wills to continue this work, even after they’re gone.
Elizabeth trained originally as an obstetrical nurse before launching a long and fulfilling career as a marriage and family counsellor after coming to Waterloo to study social work. She credits her decision to enter this rewarding field to meeting Claude and Dixie Guldner, pioneering marriage and family counsellors who were teaching at Waterloo in the 1970s. In 2002, Elizabeth published Love That Lasts: Personal Stories of Lasting Marriages, a compilation of stories about long-term marriages that survived despite hardship and trauma.
Dennis, who came to Waterloo for part-time graduate work while holding a senior position with Lutheran Life (now Faith Life), later retired and established a successful management and financial consultancy. Even today, in between the busy travel and volunteer schedule he shares with Elizabeth, he still helps clients with financial and estate planning.
In 2016 the couple made their first gift to Waterloo: a named scholarship honouring their youngest son, Stephen. Stephen was an accomplished musician who, with his brother Darrin, co-founded the dark synthpop band Psyche in 1982. He also struggled with schizophrenia during his adult life, and passed away in 2015 at the age of 47.
“One of the many reasons we feel an affinity with UWaterloo is the strong clinical psychology program in the Faculty of Arts,” says Dennis. The Stephen Huss Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate Psychology students with extracurricular involvement in mental health.
At the same time, Dennis and Elizabeth wanted to do more. “We are so proud to be UWaterloo alumni, and feel a real part of the community,” says Elizabeth. “We wanted to give back and to make sure the University can continue doing such remarkable work.”
The couple felt they had adequate funds to leave their youngest son, Darrin. So they designated a charitable bequest to Waterloo in their wills. Both also felt it was important to direct this gift to the Faculty of Arts. “We know that arts education is one of the best ways to equip students for the future, and also that these programs might be getting a little less attention from funders than those in the science and technology areas,” says Dennis,
The Huss’s generosity will one day provide ongoing Arts funding, supporting programs like scholarships and bursaries, research and travel grants, experiential learning and international study.
“When you’ve been fortunate enough to wind up with more than you ever dreamed or expected, it’s natural to want to give back; to do what you can to make things better for others,” adds Dennis. “We are so happy to help Waterloo stay strong.”
Feature image: Dennis and Elizabeth Huss with their friend, Nobel laureate Donna Strickland (centre), who was a special guest at the October President's Reception for donors.
Leave a UWaterloo legacy
We are so grateful to caring alumni like Dennis and Elizabeth whose generosity will ensure a strong future for Waterloo Arts. Making charitable bequest is one of the most powerful tools you have to leave a lasting legacy.
Please contact Arts Advancement at artsadv@uwaterloo.ca at 519-88-4567, ext. 38514 if you’d like more information.
