An Amazing Gesture of Thanks from a Chef Extraordinaire

After 36 years of teaching, event planning and food service management, this alumnus is paying his success forward with a $2.5 million bequest to hotel, restaurant and institution management (HRIM) at Iowa State.

Stewart Burger came to Ames from upstate New York in 1972 to teach and work on his master’s degree. He never looked back. “I stayed here because it was a great place to work,” says the HRIM lecturer who also is The Knoll event coordinator for Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy and his wife, Kathy. (The Knoll is the official residence for the president of Iowa State University.)

Stewart’s support for ISU programs is not new. He has contributed to many areas of the university throughout his career, including the HRIM Development Fund, the Acacia Leadership Scholarship, the National Cyclone Club, the WOI-AM and FM Fund, the Stephens Program Fund, student affairs program enhancements, and University Museums.

This recent bequest goes to the HRIM general programs. “I’m not planning to turn it over quite yet,” he says, “and trying to predict department needs 10 or 15 years into the future is not the wisest way to do it.”

A bequest naming Iowa State in a living trust is the easiest and most popular deferred git plans used by alumni and friends. Donors may name the Iowa State University Foundation as a percentage beneficiary, for a specific dollar amount or specific assets, or as a residual or contingent recipient.

The talented chef, caterer, planner, and teacher has accrued administrative and supervisory experience in all the major aspects of university food service. He began working at ISU’s food service department in 1972 as a graduate student, later serving as director of residence department dining service from 1983 to 2001.

“Education is very important to me,” says Stewart. “Working at a university is an enriching and renewing process. It keeps your mind active and engaged, and I believe everybody at the university should interact with students as much as possible. I find teaching very rewarding.”

He began his job at The Knoll the same day his new boss, President Geoffroy, began his first day of work. “The biggest share of my time is spent in special event planning and execution,” he says. “We’re a self-contained unit and I usually have about 12 students working for me. We hire them as freshmen and they stay with us for four years or more. They become part of the family here, doing the cooking, clean up and set up.”

On any given day the team may be staging a dinner for the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, organizing a reception for retiring faculty, or preparing a supper for honors students. Rarely is the same menu served twice, and everything is carefully tested before each event.

Stewart can’t say enough good things about President and Mrs. Geoffroy. “They are very kind, and some of the nicest people for whom I’ve had the pleasure to work.”

Over the years, many members of Stewart’s extended family have attended Iowa State. One exception is his mother. “My mother’s ambition was always to attend college here. She wanted to teach home economics education, but her father sent her to the University of Northern Iowa instead.”

His monetary gifts to Iowa State reflect his desire to help future generations. “Any success I’ve had in life I attribute to my education,” he says. “The beauty of America’s educational system is that it helps people live better lives. I wanted to give back generously because there have been so many people here who have been very generous to me. How can you not want to share that with others? It’s a way of paying back.”