Friends of James L. Kiffe knew he was an avid investor. But when the former bookkeeper died and left a $7.5 million estate to the school system — the biggest donation in Aquinas Catholic Schools' history — fellow Aquinas graduate William Bantle was shocked.
"I never realized that he had that much," Bantle said. "We never discussed this that seriously."
Aquinas Catholic Schools announced Kiffe's landmark gift Monday.
Most of Kiffe's bequest — about $6 million — will help pay for student scholarships. The remaining 20 percent will pay for things such as facility upgrades and new technology.
Kiffe, who graduated from Aquinas in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II, died in October at Sterling House in La Crosse. He was 87.
"He wanted to continue providing the gift of a Catholic education, even beyond his lifetime," said Kurt Nelson, president of Aquinas Catholic Schools.
