Saying Thanks with Retirement Gift

Catherine “Kitty” Lechner Crimmins

Austrian native Catherine “Kitty” Lechner Crimmins ’59 says she is proud to be an American and grateful for her Baruch College education—which is why she has made several retirement plan gifts to the College as part of her charitable action plan.

Kitty, who has created a scholarship and increases it with each year’s gift, began making contributions from her IRA a number of years ago after receiving information about the changes in IRS rules.

“I did not need my minimum required distribution income to live on, and the IRS rule change prompted me to use my IRA to best advantage,” she explained.

Kitty expressed gratitude that her Baruch education was free and that at Baruch she met her late husband, Alfred Crimmins ’60. Both graduated from the school of business with accounting degrees.

“As an immigrant I know how difficult it can be to be independent,” Kitty said. “A good education hopefully provides financial security. Baruch provided my husband and me that excellent education.”

Kitty and Al married right after graduation, and she worked shortly as an accountant until starting a family; they have four children and 14 grandchildren. Al worked for Price Waterhouse and TWA then the Bairnco Corporation, and he retired as the CEO of Collins & Aikman. Al passed away five years ago, and Kitty continues to live in New Jersey.

Kitty said of her alma mater, “My education was free, and I wanted to give back to help others because I am very proud to be an American citizen.”