Retirement party to be held for outgoing IU Foundation president

A crowd of more than 500 students, faculty and staff are expected to gather in the Musical Arts Center on Friday for a retirement celebration in honor of IU Foundation President Curt Simic, said Barbara Coffman, IU Foundation Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Communications.\nJune 30 will mark the official end of Simic’s 20 years at the IU Foundation, and his 44-year career in higher education fundraising, according to his retirement celebration Web site. Under Simic’s leadership, IU has been ranked in the top 20 public and private universities in total voluntary support – gifts and research grants from private donors – in the past 16 years, according to the Web site.\nCoffman said she has known Simic since he came to the Foundation in 1988.\n“His effect at the Foundation has been tremendous – he built the board of directors, increased the number of women and minorities employed at the Foundation,” Coffman said.\nDuring Simic’s time as a student at IU, the world of \nphilanthropy opened up to him. He served as the 1962-1963 IU Student Foundation President, and after graduating in 1964 he worked at the IU Foundation for a few years in various positions, including director. \n“It was always his dream to come back to IU,” Coffman said. “He left the foundation to build his credentials.” \nIn his 17 years away from IU after graduation, Simic worked at several universities, including Yale and others in Tennessee, Alabama and Oregon. When he worked at the University of California at Berkeley, he led different development programs and external relations, Coffman said. In 1988, Simic returned to the IU Foundation as president.\nSenior Mike Feldman plans to attend the retirement celebration. Feldman met Simic as a member of the 2007-2008 IU Student Foundation Steering Committee.\n“It’s rare to meet people who have a passion for what they do and helping others; when (Simic) speaks you can hear it in his voice,” Feldman said. “He is known across the world for what he has achieved, but he will take time out of the day to see how you are doing.” \nDoors open for the retirement celebration at 2:45 p.m. Friday, Coffman said. The program will begin at 3:15 p.m. and will include several speakers and a slide-show, with a reception following, she said. \nJudy Palmer, alumni coordinator and archivist for the IU Foundation, has known Simic since she was a member of the IU Student Foundation Steering Committee in the 1960s, will be attending the celebration. \n“The celebration will be a great opportunity for people to acknowledge, give respect, and thank him for all that he has done for IU and the Bloomington community,” Palmer said. “His shoes are going to be hard to fill.”