THE IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY
Grateful Son Continues Mom’s Legacy BY PETE WORCESTER
WHEN THEY WER E MAR RIED, Audrie Gardam Ulmer ’41 told her husband Walter they would have a son and name him Richard, after Richard the Lionheart, a king of England in the 12th century. He would be born on her birthday, and they would raise him to be a leader. Rich Ulmer made his mother proud, both in achieving her personal goals and in living a life dedicated to God, providing welfare and comfort for his
A B O V E : A U D R I E G A R D A M '41 A N D WA LT E R U L M E R O N T H E I R 5 0 T H W E D D I N G A N N I V E R S A R Y. L E F T: R I C H U L M E R W I T H H I S M O T H E R A U D R I E .
family. In his successful pharmaceutical career, Rich helped develop multibillion dollar businesses over 27 years
From that day, Rich and Bev
for Allergan. For the past 25 years, he
generously contributed to The Ulmer
has been CEO of Invitro International,
Family Scholarship to support students
a technology-driven provider of non-
the way his mom always did. They wish
animal testing technologies for eye and
to provide students with an opportunity
skin irritancy/corrosiveness.
to experience a life-changing liberal arts
Rich grew up in the suburbs of
education built on values of purpose,
Philadelphia with his mother, father
goal-setting, love, loyalty and a diversity
and sister and attended Friends Central
of opinion, all of which Guilford embraces
School in Wynnewood, Pa., for 12 years
and Rich firmly believes in.
in the 1940s and 1950s. The Ulmers lived
Describing himself as “fair, one who
a modest life in multiple apartments,
believes in hard work and making a
and his mom would say “don’t worry …
contribution to something of value,”
we always have a home,” and it was filled
Rich says “the word ‘quit’ is not in my
with love and happy memories. Audrie held a key administrative
discouraged by failure.” Rich and Bev’s love and loyalty for
vocabulary.” He believes in the power of education, as well as the relationship-
position at Friends’ Central for more
Guilford was borne out of Audrie’s life
building and critical thinking it
than two decades, and raised Rich as a
and college experience. Little did Rich
fosters. Ultimatley, he wishes to
“Quaker kid,” based on values of fairness
know of the depth of her relationship
share his spiritual, educational and
and integrity that he honors to this
with Guilford until the latter years of
career fortunes to make liberal arts
day. His fondness for Friends’ Central
her life. Without his awareness, she had
experiences affordable, and, he says,
led Rich and Bev, his beloved late wife,
gifted much of her savings to Guilford
“this is why I want to help Guilford.”
to gift The Ulmer Family Light Lab in
through The Ulmer Family Scholarship.
2016, a makerspace educational facility
Rich’s learning of the scholarship
To learn more about establishing an
dedicated to spurring creativity and
“meant the world to me” and was one of
endowment or making a gift to an existing
innovative thinking for elementary
his life’s most defining moments after
endowment, contact Ara Serjoie,
students. “At an early age, they learn
she passed away on her 81st birthday
Vice President for Advancement, at
to work in teams and not ever be
(his 58th birthday as well).
serjoiea@guilford.edu or 336.316.2320.
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