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A LEGACY OF LOVE, LIFE AND SECOND CHANCES—Courtesy of OSUCCC—James.

Roy and June Smoot

Roy Smoot, ’77 and June Smoot

A chance meeting and love at first sight on the Ohio State campus launched a love and legacy that now comes full circle in an estate gift.

Although Judy and Roy Smoot’s four-decade love story began on a cold, 1974 February day on the Ohio State campus and ended in Judy’stragic terminal glioblastoma diagnosis, the care they received at The James was a blessing deeply treasured. “Judy and I were treated with incredible skill and compassion during her glioblastoma cancer care at The James from her diagnosis until she left this earth,” Roy remembers.

This incredible Ohio State love story was far from over, however. In It All Belongs, Roy’s book chronicling this awe-inspiring journey of “Love Loss and Learning to Live Again,” readers will learn of Roy and Judy’s Ohio State beginnings and Judy’s subsequent life and work as a spiritual director and expressive arts instructor. With Judy’s illness and death, Roy began an excruciating, unwanted journey of grief before finding new love and life with his current wife, June. With its twin narratives, art, poetry and hands-on help for others on these inescapable journeys, It All Belongs is a book for everyone, and it is deeply rooted at Ohio State.

Just before Roy and June began their happily ever after era, Roy received a lung cancer diagnosis, sending him (with June) back to the caring arms of The James for treatment. “I then received incredible carefor my lung cancer at The James. Dr. Carbone and his thoracic careteam saved my life,” Roy reflects.

Today, Roy and June are well into a shared life with nothing taken for granted, every moment lived and cherished to its fullest. In this climate of love and appreciation, their thoughts turned immediately to expressing their immense gratitude for all they’ve been given—and responding to the responsibility they both feel to pay forward and give back so others can live and discover their best lives, even when the unthinkable occurs.

“I’ve been wonderfully blessed throughout my life, in good and bad times,” Roy reflects. “June and I share such gratitude for this second chance at life and love that we decided to use our estate plan as a vehicle to be sure The James and other organizations received funds from us after we’re gone.”

We want our gifts to be resources for health, research, community benefits and our planet’s health,” said Roy. “We hope our estate gift will help researchers and thoracic medical providers save more lives so other patients will be able to say, ‘The James saved my life’ or ‘The James saved my loved one’s life.’”

Roy says creating this legacy for his family at Ohio State was a logical step. “Ohio State has given us so much and cared for us so well via the many spectacular people there,” he adds. “How could we not thank them with a gift that will outlast us?”

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to The Ohio State University Foundation a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to The Ohio State University Foundation, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Ohio State or other charities.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Ohio State as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Ohio State as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Ohio State where you agree to make a gift to Ohio State and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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