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UNITY
-- Five years after his death, Bert Clifford's dream
finally came full circle last night.
The Unity College Board of Trustees voted Friday to
accept the Clifford Family Foundation's offer to take
control of the Field of Dreams athletic complex on Main
Street and the Unity Center for the Performing Arts
Centre on Depot Street.
With the estimated $2.5 million donation, the fields
and arts center Clifford helped build belong to the
college he helped build. It was one last act of
generosity by a man who always found it within himself
to do a little more for the community he loved so much.
"It makes me feel wonderful," said his widow, Coral
Clifford. "This was my husband's dream."
"It's the right time and it's a wonderful thing for
Unity College," added their daughter, C.J. O'Connor.
"This is just really special."
The agreement was announced during Friday night's
gathering at the Performing Arts Center to honor the
lifetime achievements and contributions of Coral
Clifford.
"She was a 50-50 partner in bringing this together
with Bert," said Rick O'Connor, the Cliffords'
son-in-law and president of the Clifford Family
Foundation.
Both the Field of Dreams complex -- which includes
athletic fields, a tennis court, a walking and jogging
course and a playground -- and the arts center, a
renovated house and barn that seats 245 people in a
state-of-the-art theater, were completed prior to Bert
Clifford's death in August 2001.
"He worked hard on it," Coral Clifford said of her
husband.
The properties were open to the public but remained
under the control of the Clifford Family Foundation
until yesterday.
"This feels, emotionally and physically, the right
thing to do," said Rick O'Connor.
The donation is just the latest example of Unity
College's growth and is another step toward becoming a
leader nationally among small, environmental colleges,
said President Mitch Thomashow.
"It's a watershed moment," he said. "I want the
college to play a major role in sustainability and
environmental studies. I want it to become an
intellectual center for the region."
"It's nice now, with Dad gone, for them to take
over," C.J. O'Connor said. "Not many small colleges have
this. Dad would approve whole-heartedly."
The college will use the performing arts center to
expand it arts offerings, host gatherings and as a forum
for students to host exhibits, Thomashow said. He also
hopes to expand the number and scope of performances
offered at the center. Lectures or seminars that have
been offered on the college campus can now be held at
the center and be more accessible to the general public,
Thomashow said.
"It's a place to bring the community and college
together," he said.
Both the Field of Dreams and arts center will
continue to serve the same functions for the community,
Rick O'Connor assured. Indeed, he believes the
facilities' use will only be enhanced.
"We thought it was beneficial the college came back
involved with this," he said. "We thought it was the
completion of a circle. If Bert was standing here today
he'd say this is the right thing to do, and the smart
thing to do, for the community and the college." |
