From Meet-Cute to Considerable Contribution

“Boy, I wish I could meet her,” Steve Zaleski ’75 thought to himself after spotting a woman amidst the crowd of concert goers at the Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse back in 1973. He eventually met that woman—Jane (Turnbull) Zaleski ’76— and has been married to her for 47 years. Both came to Bradley looking not only for a great education, but to find a community they could call home for four years. Jane was interested in Bradley’s competitive nursing program—one of the first to include community health training—and Steve pursued a degree in engineering. 

Freshman year, Steve engineered himself into hot water. “I moved into Geisert Hall, which didn’t have air conditioning and it was miserably hot,” he recalled. “With my Swiss Army knife, I could remove the heater blower from its cabinet and place it in the window, blasting a lot of outside air into the building. After modifying my room, I did quite a few more rooms on my floor.”

It only took a few days for Steve’s modification to spread around the building. At first, the housing office did not approve of the blowers being out of place. However, Ken Golden, director of housing at the time, met with Steve and suggested a compromise—leave the blower in the cabinet during the day, but put it in the window at night.

“His openness to me was very comforting,” Steve said. “Many years later, when my daughter Sarah attended Bradley as a graduate student, I asked for Ken’s help in finding lodging for her. After introducing myself, he remarked ‘Were you one of my head residents from the ’70s?’” It’s those connections that the Zaleskis cherish about Bradley.

Jane and Steve not only found each other at Bradley, but both found meaningful career paths after graduation.“Bradley’s nursing training served me well,” Jane said. “After graduation, I was able to obtain good paying, quality nursing jobs.” She worked as a nurse for nearly 40 years in the Chicago area, retiring in 2016. 

Steve landed his first job as a manufacturing engineer at Skil Tool in Chicago, applying a lesson he learned from instructor Harry Moore that he took to heart and still carries to this day. Shortly before graduation, “Mr. Moore sat at his desk, looked at the class, and said, ‘We’re going to talk about jobs,’” What followed was an impactful session unpacking Moore’s 20-year life in manufacturing, and the instruction to show up for work on time every day.

Steve showed up 90 minutes early on his first day of work, and never forgot the valuable lessons that came from that conversation.

Steve and Jane’s children, Eric Zaleski ’04 and Sarah (Zaleski) Degarmo ’12, would also join the Bradley family. 

Eric entered Bradley undecided about his path, eventually finding his focus and a great group of friends through international studies, as well as the Bradley music department’s concert band, jazz bands, and basketball pep band. “I use the knowledge I gained at Bradley daily,” Eric said. “International studies taught me that nothing happens in a vacuum—everything has causes, effects and consequences. My tenure with the Bradley bands taught me that nearly everything requires a team and every team member has a role to play.”

Sarah pursued a master's degree in art at Bradley. “I was able to advance my learning while participating in hands-on workshops, attending lectures, and experiencing art in local galleries.” One of her favorite professors, Randy Carlson, was particularly impactful on her journey. “He encouraged his students to explore with material and create, all while giving guidance, advice and support.”

“We are each thankful for receiving a good, solid education from Bradley University,” Jane said.

Giving Back, Moving Forward

In September 2022, the Zaleskis’ would gift $1 million to BU. Their generosity was used for the engineering drop tower in the Business and Engineering Convergence Center (BECC) and the Ceramic Studio in Heuser Hall, while also creating endowed funds for residential advising, a nursing student assistance fund, and travel funds for international studies and the jazz band.

Recently they’ve gifted another $1 million to Bradley. This donation will, among other things, endow the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Summer Fellowship and Artistry Program, a signature initiative that pairs students with professors to design and execute original research projects, as well as support campus improvement projects. They’ve also bookmarked $100,000 in unrestricted funds to be used as a donor match for the Spring 2025 Day of Giving, encouraging additional support from alumni and friends of Bradley.

This generosity has earned the Zaleskis membership in the Lydia Moss Bradley Society (LMBS), a recognition group for those who routinely go above and beyond with their support of the Bradley University mission with unrestricted giving. As Don Sidlowski ’79, the Inaugural National Chair of the LMBS explains, their generosity embodies the watchwords of the Society: What would Mrs. Bradley do?

“In 1897, our Founder set the gold standard for paying it forward that has since given the opportunity for nearly half a million students to attend the university,” Sidlowski said. “the Zaleski Family carries on with that honored tradition, setting a shining example for others who also wish to give back to their alma mater."

“We are very happy that we can pass forward our financial gifts as a thank you to Bradley,” Jane said.

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