Endowing the Best of Burroughs

John Wesley's memory will live on thanks to the John Wesley Scholarship.

One hundred and fifty-five students—more than 24 percent of our student body—receive tuition assistance. This is largely made possible by scholarships that are established to honor and remember people who will always be an important part of our community. John Wesley was just such a person.

When John joined the maintenance staff at JBS in 1960, he essentially was the maintenance staff. He worked hard and took exceptional and personal pride in the spaces and gardens under his charge. For 38 years, he befriended students and faculty, grew flowers on campus from seed, and demonstrated over and over again that any job worth having was worthy of one’s best efforts. By substance and numbers, he stood with Alverson, Beckman, Blossom, Collins, Crabtree, Curlett, Damon, Haertter, Hanson, Hill, Keefer, Lemen, (Gaylord) Montgomery, Rossi, Schandorff, the Snodgrasses, Walker, Weinrich, Yager and other Burroughs’ greats.

John retired in July 1998 and died five months later. He was remembered by Mark Vittert ’65, who said, “John encouraged us in our strengths and he softened our struggles with his compassion. He always made us feel that we could reach for the stars—and we believed him—and he believed in each one of us. The best that John Burroughs School has to offer was clear in John: courage, compassion and faith. He gave us his best for almost 40 years. John Wesley was one of John Burroughs School’s finest teachers.”

Shortly after John’s death, a longtime employee whose building John cared for established a scholarship in his name. As word got out, others began contributing to the fund, and in 2008 the inaugural recipient of the John W. Wesley Scholarship was named. Students continue to benefit.

Dan Bomze ’92 and his wife, Kathleen, have included a special gift to this scholarship in their estate plans. Dan said, “John was a man of few words, but his ingenuity and tireless work ethic were an inspiration to me. His legacy at Burroughs is something I’m very proud to support, and I’m delighted that his name and memory live on through this scholarship.”

It is wonderful to see John’s legacy live on through gifts that will support students in perpetuity. More importantly, these gifts remind us of John’s story and the impact he continues to have on Burroughs.

There are many ways you can support JBS with a gift in someone's name. Contact Ginger Imster at gimster@jburroughs.org or 314-993-4045, ext. 256, to learn more.