The Elsie deRenzo Orlando and Samuel P. Orlando Funds

"What more fitting tribute?" asks Letitia (Tish) Orlando Principato in referring to the two endowed collections funds she has established at the Library in memory of her parents. After all, she says, her parents - both Italian immigrants who became attorneys - placed enormous value on education and would be pleased to know that students will continue to benefit from "their" gift.

For Tish, the Penn Library is a great love. She used it when she was first here as a young student and again when she returned 27 years later to complete her undergraduate degree and, later, to do further study. She notes with pride that her son, Gene, C'72, chose to attend Penn over Georgetown, in part, because of the Library. Her granddaughter, Maria McClay, continued the family tradition as a member of the Class of 2001.

Now Tish Principato is auditing a number of Penn courses, and she again finds herself going to the Library to read, study, and just take a breather. As she does, she feels a certain satisfaction in knowing that she has played a part in its strength through the Elsie deRenzo Orlando Fund and the Samuel P. Orlando Fund, which she has established.