New Endowment Fund in Honor of Shirley Daball

The Shirley Daball Museum Garden Fund will ensure ongoing care of the new Museum’s garden, allow for additional plantings, provide educational activities and support for volunteer gardeners now and in perpetuity.

Before developing Alzheimer’s disease, Shirley Daball was a devoted Wolverine fan who never missed a home game and traveled to many away games.

Shirley was also a devoted U-M Museum of Natural History fan. She was fascinated from the first time she entered the Museum, and made sure to visit it whenever she and her husband Jack were in Ann Arbor. When friends visited the couple’s home in Jackson, Shirley made sure they went to see the Museum, saying “I want you to see my fossils.”

Shirley worked as assistant to the vice president of Comerica Bank. Her husband recalls how fond Mr. Campbell was of Shirley, describing what a great day it was when the “fiery redhead” took over his office with efficiency and serene confidence.

In 2003, Shirley was one of the first donors to the Museum’s Butterfly and Pollinator Garden, and she always “bought a bone” during Buy-A-Bone fundraising campaigns.

Over the years, Jack continued to send donations to make sure “Shirley’s butterfly garden is taken care of." After learning of the impact his initial endowment gift would have for the future of Museum programs, Jack thought it was important to establish a second endowment fund in honor of Shirley.

The Shirley Daball Museum Garden Fund will ensure ongoing care of the new Museum’s garden, allow for additional plantings, provide educational activities and support for volunteer gardeners now and in perpetuity.

“Shirley always said the University should be proud of the treasure trove they had in the Museum,” Jack said. “Now Shirley will be recognized by this special place forever. That makes me happy.”

If you are interested in adding to this fund, establishing an endowment gift yourself, or learning about other named funding opportunities, please contact Nora Webber, Assistant Director for Development, at norawe@umich.edu.

Release Date:
07/20/2017