Morgan Fitch Jr., ’48, was a loyal donor to the Law School—and he continued his generosity through his estate.
The Law School Fund received nearly $150,000 through charitable gift annuities established by Fitch and his wife of 68 years, Helen.
Additionally, a $215,000 bequest will support students and recent graduates who pursue public sector careers. It is a fitting use of a gift from someone who believed wholeheartedly in the public good, say his children, Ruth, Mary, Fred, and Morgan Fitch IV, BS ’73, JD ’76.
Fitch, who died in November 2013, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He also founded the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a nonprofit civilian youth training organization, and volunteered with many organizations, including the Boy Scouts and the YMCA.
Fitch spent his career at the Chicago firm now known as Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP, where his practice focused on intellectual property law. Morgan IV recalls accompanying his dad to a Kraft brother’s basement to witness the first test of a machine that would turn raw cheese into single-wrapped slices.
U-M was a family affair.
Mary served for many years as the director of the Legal Writing Program at the Law School, and Morgan IV credits family trips to Camp Michigania as a reason he followed his dad’s footsteps by attending Michigan.
Fitch’s children say his generosity reflected his fondness for Michigan—from married housing to classmates like Roy Proffitt, ’48.
“My parents gave generously, both of their time and their money, to many organizations,” says Mary, “but the Law School occupied a special place for them.”
