Elizabeth Thompson Memorial Scholarship

A book based on the facts of Elizabeth Thompson’s life would never sell—simply because it would be considered too strange to be believed. Born in 1896, Elizabeth lived to be 101 years old. She packed in that century enough experiences for 20 people, but those experiences were all hers. She loved to tell people about her many life-changing events, until her last few years when her memory grew dim.

Elizabeth was born in Russia, part of a strong German community mixed with Mennonites and other Protestant Reformation groups. It was the era of Catherine the Great, and peasants were promised many privileges that never materialized. In 1899, when Elizabeth was not yet three, she came to America by steerage on the vessel Sitka. Because her birth mother had died when Elizabeth was only one, she had been shunted from one living situation to another. Her life in America proved to be full of hardship as well, but she not only survived—she thrived.

Despite two failed marriages (the first at 16) and absolutely no formal education, Elizabeth became a successful businesswoman. She had two outstanding talents—one in the millinery business, the other in the stock market. Women’s hats were in fashion, and if Elizabeth saw one that was especially striking, she could reproduce it in short order. Her hat-making expertise put her in high demand, and she spent 42 years traveling and working in department stores coast to coast. But her talent and ambition took a toll on her health.

At age 53 Elizabeth’s physician advised her to find a hobby that would relieve some of the stress of her work. An acquaintance who had worked for a brokerage house gave her a few rudimentary tips and suggested that she invest her total life savings of $2,500 in the stock market. It was a leap of faith, but that’s exactly what she did. Soon Elizabeth was hooked on her new hobby, one that engaged her for the rest of her life. It proved to be a very profitable hobby.

Elizabeth was an active and involved member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Beach, where she became acquainted with Borgny Baird, an attorney and strong CLU supporter. Borgny introduced Elizabeth to Ken Siegele in CLU’s estate planning office, who helped her to plan for the future disposition of her wealth.

Years before her death Elizabeth formalized her wishes for the Elizabeth Thompson Memorial Scholarship. She earmarked it for an incoming freshman who ranks within the top 10 percent of his/her class. The scholarship is renewable and is based on financial need. Elizabeth expressed a slight preference for a student considering either a pre-medicine or pre-theology course of study.