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John Slidell ’62 Makes Transformational Gift to Endowment

Photo of John Slidell '62

We would like to thank John Slidell ’62 and his wife, Mary, who have made an unrestricted endowment gift to The Campaign for Landon.

“Landon helped launch my life, and I have always had a debt of gratitude I wanted to repay,” explained John. “Making an unrestricted endowment gift is important to me because it helps ensure the School has funds to meet whatever challenges the future may bring.”

John learned firsthand what commitment and community truly mean at Landon. At the beginning of his junior year, he was struck with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare paralytic disease that completely paralyzed him. He spent months in the hospital in an iron lung, and when he recovered, had missed much of the school year.

Landon’s response was complete and immediate. The School sent teachers to his house to tutor him so he wouldn’t drop back a year.

With obvious emotion, John noted, “I had been an average student, but I was so motivated by that experience and what Landon did for me that I ended up as class valedictorian. That, along with Headmaster Banfield’s recommendation, got me into Princeton and launched my life. The way Landon stuck with me is something I will never forget it.”

John graduated from Princeton in 1966 and served as an Army infantry officer in Vietnam. He then earned a master’s in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and went into real estate. In 1988 he cofounded The Bozzuto Group, a values-based real estate company in Maryland that has grown to over 3,000 employees.

He and his wife decided to support The Campaign for Landon with both an outright gift and a bequest, for a total gift of $500,000.

“When you plan some of your gift for the future, you can give more than you may have expected,” said John. “We shared my story in hopes that it will inspire other classmates to contribute to this School that makes such a big difference in students’ lives.”

Landon extends deep thanks to the Slidell family and all the generous benefactors who are helping us enhance our boys’ experience.  If you would like to explore making a gift that is meaningful to you and the School, please contact Director of Development Peter J. Gallo, Ph.D., at peter_gallo@landon.net or 301-320-1004.