Alumnus Invests in the  Future of USM Students with $1M Planned Gift

John Ladky ’70 has lived in Atlanta since 1982 but has never forgotten growing up in Shorewood and Fox Point along Lake Michigan. A former lawyer, he currently works in real estate and runs a furniture business, and is focusing on how his resources might provide students with the same educational opportunities he had. “Milwaukee is still, in so many ways, my hometown,” he said. “So, I wanted to support USM and honor the positive experience and teachers I had there.”

John has chosen to include USM in his estate plans, leaving $1 million in his will to support the creation of an endowed scholarship—the Ladky Family Scholarship Fund—to include recognition of his brother Jim ’74 and sister Mary ’77. “I don’t have children myself, so I’ve never paid a tuition bill. I feel I have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to support USM students by providing tuition assistance. This school gave me so much, and I want to give back now that I am in a position to do so.” 

John hails from a family of six, and he and his siblings each received a private school education from grade school through college and graduate school. “My parents and grandparents, who established an educational foundation, were very civic-minded and generously supported community causes. They also believed in the in the value of education, both public and private.”

John attended Milwaukee University School for kindergarten and returned to USM for Upper School. Drawn by the school’s strong commitment to foster the strengths of each student, he found a home at USM. He enjoyed the supportive environment, forming lifelong friendships and competing in both swimming and tennis, his favorite sports.

“USM wasn’t just a school to me—it was a place I enjoyed going every day to have fun, learn, and compete in my sports,” John recalls. “I had incredible teachers who inspired me, like Mary “Peetie” Basson and Peter Straub MCDS ’61, who encouraged my enjoyment of reading and writing. Jim Norris, my swim coach, fostered my love of swimming so much so that I swam in college and now at Georgia Tech, where I am the oldest member of a masters swim team. And of course, Jim Laing, who made me into a better tennis player than I thought possible.”

John earned a bachelor’s degree in government at Colby College before earning his law degree at Marquette University. His career led him to Atlanta, where he built a successful business, but he never lost his connection to USM. He remained in touch with many USM alumni, often returning to attend reunion events, and has hosted alumni events at his home in Atlanta, including one this year in April.

John hopes that by sharing his story, he can inspire fellow alumni to consider planned giving. “You don’t have to be a billionaire and give a building to make a difference,” he said. “I want others to know that planned giving is an option for everyone. Even a modest gift can have a significant impact.”