Steve Hale, BS Business Administration 鈥75, did his best to live an unassuming, modest lifestyle. He worked as a senior design engineer for 39 years at Electronic Instrumentation and Technology LLC (EIT) in Leesburg, Virginia. He was a pioneer in developing electrophysiology equipment used in cardiac catheterization labs, and he developed ultraviolet radiation measuring instruments, ground probing radar technology, and a vibration measuring system to quiet nuclear submarines, among other areas of expertise.
Hale was an excellent thinker with a good sense of humor who wanted to be viewed by colleagues as an offbeat, nontraditional farmer. Hale and his wife of 41 years, Jane, lived on a 53-acre horse farm caring for 15 to 18 horses.
But everyone who knew Steve Hale knew he was sincere and thoughtful, even if he could be a practical joker at times. This is how Joe May, chief technology officer for EIT, describes Hale.
鈥淪teve would come in often driving a horse van. We鈥檇 kid him about it, that we were the only company around with a horse van in our parking lot.鈥
May was friends with Hale for 43 years and agreed to be trustee of his estate, given that Jane Hale preceded her husband in death in March 2016. Hale died on February 25, 2018.
鈥淓ventually, Steve told his attorney that he wanted me to be his trustee because he trusted my judgment and that I would 鈥榙o the right thing,鈥欌 says May. 鈥淲e were talking about the disposition of the proceeds of his estate, and he chose George Mason. We both have considerable appreciation for higher education.鈥
Hale bequeathed approximately $890,000 to the to be used to create a collaborative learning and working space for business students.
鈥淗e was always appreciative of the fact that George Mason and a degree opened doors for him that wouldn鈥檛 have otherwise been opened,鈥 says May. 鈥淚鈥檓 certain he would be pleased to know how Mason is going to use his bequest. He would have denied it all, but deep down he鈥檇 be very proud of it.鈥