"I received a phone call from Packard Children’s to thank me
for one of my initial gifts, which was very small,” recalls Bess Lundine with a
twinkle in her eye. “I knew then that this was a special place that I wanted to
support for the rest of my life.”
Soon thereafter, Bess read her name and that of her husband,
Charles, printed in a donor recognition newsletter alongside others who had
made much larger contributions. Her hunch was confirmed: Packard Children’s had
the personal touch that she was searching for in designating a recipient for
her own larger gift.
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Bess Lundine
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In 2009, Bess established a charitable gift annuity (CGA)
with Packard Children’s. Following a career in real estate, bookkeeping, and
accounting, she was well-informed about the value of making a planned gift: the
CGA would create a mutually beneficial situation in which she could guarantee a
fixed income for herself for the rest of her life, while also making a generous
gift to support children’s health.
Bess immigrated from the Philippines in 1968, and soon after
was hired at Hewlett-Packard, where she remained for 15 years. She fondly
remembers seeing David Packard mingling with employees in the hallway, and
always admired Lucile’s down-to-earth manner when she visited the company. Bess
was thrilled to personally express her sentiments when she met David and
Lucile’s daughter, Susan Packard Orr, at a recent donor reception at Taaffe
House, the former Packard home in Los Altos Hills.
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Bess Lundine with her late husband, Charles
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Just after her time at HP, Bess met and married her husband,
Charles “Chuck” Lundine, a school teacher and principal. Bess and Chuck settled
in Mountain View,
where they created a warm and lively home. Bess began to diversify her career,
and took up a longtime volunteer position at the Community Services Agency of
Mountain View. Over the years, the Lundine household entertained numerous
relatives from Sweden and
the Philippines,
as well as friends and members of the Lundines’ close-knit church community.
Today, Bess remains as active as ever. She continues to
dedicate much of her time to St. Athanasius Church in Mountain View and travels extensively, including a recent trip to Germany. Bess
also maintains a part time tax-advising business with her niece, Amy, and is
currently training her nephew, Medy.
Whether it is through her volunteerism, philanthropic
generosity, or simply her infectious laugh, Bess has left her mark on the local
community. “Bess is one of the most financially savvy women I know,” says Donna
Bandelloni, director of Gift Planning at the Lucile Packard Foundation for
Children’s Health. “She also has an enormous heart, and for that we are truly
grateful.”