Honoring his sister's legacy

Eric Wilska '72 makes bequest to benefit Shawn Wilska Murphy '64 Memorial Scholarship

Marietta College provided the backdrop for the four most formative years in Eric Wilska's life - and he wouldn't have even known about this wonderful institution if it weren't for his late sister, Sharon "Shawn" Wilska Murphy '64, who invited him to visit campus several times while he was still in high school.

"The fact that Sharon and her husband (John "Murph" Murphy '63) - then her boyfriend, but now my brother-in-law - really had a good experience, that meant a lot to me. And I loved the town and the very New England character," Eric said. "I loved the look and feel of campus, and there were meaningful family connections. I had gone out to visit and stayed with my sister and brother-in-law during their senior year, and I just really dug it."

With a recent bequest through his will, Eric has committed a meaningful gift to grow the Shawn Wilska Murphy '64 Memorial Scholarship endowment in memory of his sister, who passed away December 11, 2015. The fund was established by Eric's brother-in-law, John, and several family and friends have made contributions in Shawn's memory.

"Shawn was a teacher and heavily involved in the community in Eastern Pennsylvania for many years," Eric said. "She literally taught coal miners' daughters. She was the kind of person who would help people see their worth, (which was) particularly aimed at empowering young women. She had three daughters of her own who are now all very accomplished, great women. So, when the opportunity came up, we made an initial gift to the scholarship."

Eric and his wife, Evelyn, realized they could strengthen the fund so future students receiving the scholarship would receive a substantial amount of aid and benefit in Shawn's name. Eric's children are excited about honoring their aunt with this fund and also plan to support it.

"(Shawn) was my soul sister. She was not only the one who encouraged me to go to Marietta, but many of the things we have in our house that are Marietta-related are items Shawn gifted me. She was pretty gushy about it - she and Murph."

Knowing that his sister got a lot out of Marietta College and that his family has been able to create a scholarship that will help other students is meaningful for Eric.

"It's no question - it's an emotional reaction. This does mean something to me, and it keeps the spirit of my sister alive. And more importantly, I know this will help a student who is in need. My wife shares that sentiment - it's not a unilateral decision," Eric said. "We don't have a lot and we aren't making a lot of different bequests. This gift to Marietta is the bequest. It was a little bit of a surprise to us that we did it. I hadn't considered it until we started doing our legal planning, which forces you to think about what you're most passionate about. And this scholarship just seemed like a logical decision for us."

For Eric, who was an English major and now operates his second bookstore - Shaker Mills Books in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts - Marietta College was a family affair. Not only did his sister and brother-in-law attend, but also his late wife, Cathy Comstock '72, who passed away in 1992, John's brother and sister-in-law, Bob '71 (deceased) and Pat Lawlor Murphy '72, and Eric's niece, Heather Mastromatteo DiPaolo '94, nephew, Greg Wilska '94, and cousin, Kelt Naylor '85.

"When we get together at our family clambake every year in Cape Cod, inevitably someone will say, 'Hey, did you hear such and such?' and we Marietta people will get together in a little group and say, 'I didn't know that,' or 'Wow!' (or) 'Did you hear about the basketball team, or that the football team won?' We reminisce together. We were of the age where there were professors who we all had, and that's kind of cool. And, of course, we all go to family weddings. They're still connected - many of my nephews and nieces - with Marietta, like I am. For the Wilska family, Marietta will always be our home-away-from-home."