Rosemary Sage ’44
By Emily Glory Peters
Elizabeth Rosemary Plane Sage ’44 was more than a talented painter and art collector—she was visionary with a heart for young artists at Scripps College.
Following her passing last year at the remarkable age of 100, the alumna lovingly known as “Rosemary” left an incredible planned gift of $1.1 million to Scripps’ Department of Art to foster community for students and faculty. As a member of Scripps’ Elm Tree Society, a group of donors who choose to include Scripps in their wills and estate plans, Sage’s gift will have an enduring impact for future artists.
“Scripps’ art department serves nearly 500 students across The Claremont Colleges, and the new Elizabeth Rosemary Plane Sage Trust Art Fund is already enriching their creative experience,” says Casey Crosbie, director of gift planning. “Rosemary wanted to have the broadest possible impact, and planned gifts like hers are a testament to the power of forward-thinking philanthropy.”
A transformational planned gift for art students at Scripps College
Born in 1922 to a family of English immigrants, Sage grew up in Los Angeles where she cultivated a deep appreciation for the arts. She remained an advocate for creativity throughout her life, covering the walls of her home in compositions from herself, her husband Randy, and emerging artists.
To honor her time at Scripps, Sage created her fund through a straightforward process of naming College as a beneficiary in her trust, directed to the Department of Art. The Scripps board of trustees chose to use the gift to create a quasi-endowment dedicated to supporting the department in perpetuity.
The quasi-endowment balances fidelity to the art department with flexible funds for growth, including:
- community-building events that bring students together to collaborate, share ideas, and celebrate artistic achievements;
- paid student opportunities, providing aspiring artists with financial support for invaluable professional development;
- state-of-the-art equipment and increased supplies, giving students access to resources that expand their artistic horizons;
- skill-based workshops open to the entire 5C community and any student interested in art;
- student-curated art shows to strengthen young artists understanding of research, exhibition planning, public programming, and collections management; and
- renovations to the senior art studio at Scripps, transforming it into an even more inspiring and functional space.
Honoring Sage’s vision for the Department of Art
Identifying these areas came from thorough research, discussion, and voting says Kasper Kovitz, associate professor of art and Chair of the Department of Art.
Through this ongoing analysis, the College can ensure Sage’s gift aligns with the department’s commitment to exceptional arts education. Above all, notes Kovitz, fostering community will remain the department’s guiding light.
Scripps’ senior art majors gather at their fall art exhibition
“The art building can be overlooked by students, and many art majors meet each other for the first time in their penultimate senior seminar,” says Kovitz, expressing excitement for upcoming lectures, film screenings, and workshops fueled by the Sage fund. “It is incredibly important that young artists build community around their shared interests.”
Using Sage’s gift, Kovitz is also renovating Scripps’ senior studio to expand collaborative artmaking space and make crucial safety upgrades. The effort is the latest in a series of enhancements to the art department’s facilities. Such speedy improvements will be key as Scripps attracts an ever-growing cohort of young artists, with planned gifts vital for their long-term success.
“Rosemary was a dancer, an artist, and a believer that creating together shapes a better world,” says Crosbie. “Each artwork brought to life at the College will stand in tribute to that belief and, with hope, inspire others to leave a lasting impact for our students.”
To explore how planned giving can support future generations at Scripps, please contact Scripps’ Office of Gift Planning. For more inspiring stories from others who’ve included Scripps in their planned giving, click here.