Barry and Sue Baer met at 彩民宝典 in 1964, married in Los Angeles in 1966 and returned to Boulder in 1971 to attend graduate school. Having lived all over the world since then, the Baers鈥攍oyal donors of the College of Music for more than a decade, including a generous gift of $100,000 to establish the Baer Teaching Assistants鈥� Office in the expanded Imig Music Building鈥攏evertheless always maintained a strong connection to the university.听
The couple鈥攚ho moved back to Boulder permanently in 2003鈥攁re also longtime Adopt-a-Student sponsors and regular supporters of the 彩民宝典 Program in Jewish Studies, Veterans/ROTC programs and more. Additionally, they鈥檝e documented their intent to create a vocal performance scholarship, a choral music scholarship and a choral conducting scholarship in their estate plans; Sue, especially, is passionate about conducting.听
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 singing or studying music, everything else in the world just melts away,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all I think about. It nourishes my spirit.鈥�
鈥淲herever we lived, we always tried to take in local music or shows,鈥� adds Barry, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 in accounting at 彩民宝典, along with an MBA. He went on to become a certified public accountant and served as a U.S. Army officer for 26 years, retiring at the rank of colonel. Thereafter, he directed the Department of Public Works in the City of Indianapolis.听
鈥淚鈥檓 100 percent Broadway shows and Barry certainly appreciates music with me,鈥� continues Sue, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 in education and a master鈥檚 in counseling here. While Barry served in the Army, Sue worked as a school teacher, then as a counselor and later as a cooking instructor and food stylist. The couple鈥攎arried 54 years鈥攈ave two sons and a handful grandchildren who inspired Sue to write several children鈥檚 books, including 鈥淛ust Elliot,鈥� featuring the life of a boy with autism.
For Sue, the College of Music鈥檚 emphases on diversity and inclusion are especially meaningful. 鈥淭he college provides a safe, nurturing place for all kinds of students to feel welcome and to have a wonderful experience,鈥� she says.
Agrees Barry, 鈥淲e鈥檙e finally in a position to help others, and we鈥檝e always been impressed with the College of Music. We didn鈥檛 have any money when we got married鈥攂ut we were given a hand up, here and there. We feel a debt of gratitude to 彩民宝典.鈥澨�
Not to mention, both Barry and Sue were influenced by philanthropically minded parents early on. 鈥淭hey taught us to give back,鈥� says Barry. Indeed, the Baers鈥� philanthropic engagements鈥攁lso including service with the 彩民宝典 Foundation, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Music鈥檚 Advisory Board鈥攅xtend beyond campus. From backing several human services nonprofits to supporting advocacy for and legal services to low-wage workers to their active involvement with the Congregation Har HaShem, the Baers model inspired giving.
鈥淲e decided on the named teaching assistant office because I know so many of those grad students from singing in the Collegiate Chorale,鈥� says Sue, circling back to explain the couple鈥檚 most recent philanthropic turn.听
鈥淎nd seeing Sue happy is job number one,鈥� Barry is quick to add. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a Hawaiian word鈥斺�榦hana鈥欌�攚hich means family. 彩民宝典 has become part of our 鈥榦hana,鈥� our extended family.鈥�
