Via Lucis Society

$5,000,000+ | Est. 2021

The Breidegam family legacy shines brightly across Moravian University, from the Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Center for Health Sciences to the Timothy M. Breidegam Track at Steel Field and the Timothy M. Breidegam Fieldhouse. Through these sites and the many scholarships bearing their names, the difference the Breidegam family has made endures. The family includes former Board of Trustees member DeLight E. Breidegam Jr.* and his wife, Helen S. Breidegam;* their children, Sally S. Miksiewicz ’84,* Timothy M. Breidegam,* and Daniel D. Breidegam; and grandchildren Timothy R. Miksiewicz, Daniel D. Miksiewicz ’14, Katelyn S. Miksiewicz ’16, and Matthew J. Miksiewicz ’18.

DeLight E. Breidegam Jr. was a Life Trustee who served for 37 years, and his daughter, Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz ’84, served on the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2015.

After DeLight’s passing in 2015, his family fulfilled his wish to build the Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Center for Health Sciences to honor his daughter, who predeceased him. The Timothy M. Breidegam Fieldhouse is a legacy of the leadership and selfless service demonstrated by DeLight’s son Timothy, a member of the Class of 1978. Sadly, Timothy passed away while a student at Moravian. DeLight established the Helen S. Breidegam R.N. Scholarship Fund in honor of his wife, the Timothy M. Breidegam Scholarship Fund in memory of their son, and the Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Scholarship Fund in memory of their daughter.

Helen S. Breidegam faithfully supported the scholarships and the facilities bearing her family’s name until her passing in 2021. She made sure that all of their gifts remained pillars of excellence for the student experience. The Helen S. Breidegam School of Nursing and Public Health is a Top 10 Nursing School in Pennsylvania, boasting degree options at the baccalaureate and master levels. A recent renovation of the Timothy M. Breidegam Fieldhouse has ensured that it continues to be a premier athletic facility for all students and the community.

Daniel D. Breidegam is a lifelong supporter of Moravian. He has generously honored his siblings’ legacies with gifts to their memorial scholarships and the family scholarship in honor of his mother.

Today, the grandchildren continue this legacy of generosity by holding an annual Celebrating Sally 5K/Memorial Mile, with proceeds going to the Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Scholarship Fund.

The Breidegam family’s philanthropy has earned them Moravian’s highest level of distinction of lifetime giving. Moravian University owes the Breidegam family a debt of gratitude for their tireless efforts and advocacy for students. The spirit through which they give will last in perpetuity and inspire generations.

*Deceased

$2,500,000–$4,999,999 | Est. 2021

The Reinhard family has made a profound and lasting difference at Moravian University and in the lives of our students. Fred and Rosalie Reinhard’s passion for the university began when their daughter, Joan, enrolled at Moravian. Joan earned her bachelor of science degree in biology in 1986. Her brother, Jeff, graduated in 1990 with a bachelor of arts in management. Dedicated to the university’s mission, the Reinhards soon became two of Moravian’s most devoted supporters.  

Fred is a Life Trustee serving on the Board of Trustees of Moravian for 22 years. He and Rosalie are generous patrons of Moravian athletics. In 2003, the university honored Fred as the Gillespie Award recipient for his unwavering support of Greyhound athletics, and the Alumni Association named him an honorary alumnus. In 2012, Fred was inducted into the Moravian University Hall of Fame as an honorary member.

The Reinhards’ enthusiasm and philanthropic support have greatly enhanced Moravian’s athletics programs by helping to establish the men’s lacrosse program, the men’s and women’s swimming teams, and athletics internship positions. In addition, the Reinhards have supported many athletics and facility projects. Their generosity established the state-of-the-art Fitness Center in the Breidegam Field House and improved the John Makuvek Field. They assisted with completing the Blue & Grey Pavilion at Steel Field and provided game-day field bleachers, shelters, new ticket booths, and more.

The Reinhards’ generosity goes far beyond athletics. They supported the Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex and the SuperLab in Collier Hall. Their philanthropy has enhanced the music department, band, and many other programs. Fred, Chairman of Pencor Services, Inc., is the man behind Blue Ridge Cable, which has brought Moravian University Christmas Vespers to more than 10 million viewers.

The Reinhard family’s leadership and generosity have helped transform Moravian’s athletics and academic programs while assisting students in achieving their career goals. Moravian student-athletes and the entire community will forever celebrate the Reinhards’ legacy. 

$1,000,000–$2,499,999 | Est. 2012

Throughout her life, Priscilla Payne Hurd* committed herself to service to others. She made a tremendous difference in the lives of generations of Moravian University students. Her selfless generosity was the inspiration for the inaugural level of lifetime giving, the Priscilla Payne Hurd Society, in 2012. Nearly 10 years later, Priscilla’s generosity was the inspiration for the Via Lucis Society, which celebrates all of our donors and families whose total giving to Moravian exceeds $100,000 during their lifetime.

Priscilla Payne Hurd’s appointment to the Board of Trustees in 1974 profoundly impacted the university through her dedicated service, inspirational leadership, and generous financial support. Priscilla exemplified the credo she wrote early in her philanthropic leadership career: “No one is greater than the service she renders the world.”

In 1999, Priscilla was elected Moravian’s first female chair of the Board, and in 2006 she received an honorary degree. During her tenure as Board chair, the university underwent extensive renovation and expansion of its infrastructure, the addition of innovative curricular and co-curricular programs such as the Learning in Common curriculum and the Leadership Center, and unprecedented growth of its student body.

Due to her generosity and leadership, Moravian’s South Campus is named the Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus. She created the Priscilla Payne Hurd Center for Music and Art and the Frank E. and Seba B. Payne Gallery, provided financial leadership for constructing the Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex, and established the Priscilla Payne Hurd Chair in the Arts and Humanities. In addition, Priscilla established the Ervin J. Rokke Endowment for Student-Faculty Research.

Moravian University is grateful for Priscilla’s extraordinary leadership, dedication, and support. She will always be a beacon of light for everyone her philanthropy touches.

*Deceased

$750,000–$999,999 | Est. 2021

The Albright family has a long, bright history at Moravian. The family of five, Alice, Margaret, Alma, Shirley, and Alvin, have loyally supported Moravian University and understand the importance of educating our students. Scholarships were established in each of the Albright sisters’ names to continue to provide financial aid opportunities to Moravian students.

Alice A. Albright*, Class of 1935, was the eldest of the Albright siblings and the first to graduate from Moravian. Unfortunately, Alice died at a very young age, and her family chose to memorialize her by establishing the first of the Albright Scholarships. The Alice A. Albright Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for students majoring in French or German to carry on Alice’s legacy.

Alma Albright*, Class of 1940, was actively involved in the Allentown Alumni Club at Moravian. In addition to other leadership roles, she served as an Antiques Show volunteer, a Class Correspondent, and the Class Representative for President Christopher M. Thomforde’s Inauguration. The Alma A. Albright Memorial Scholarship Fund carries on her legacy by providing scholarships to students majoring in a foreign language.

Margaret Albright*, Class of 1943, was actively involved in the Allentown Alumni Club at Moravian, holding every officer position through the years. Margaret was an Antiques Show volunteer and Class Correspondent. The Margaret L. Albright Memorial Scholarship Fund continues her legacy by providing scholarships to students majoring in business.

Shirley Albright* was the last to graduate from Moravian, with the Class of 1953. Like her sisters, she was involved in the Allentown Alumni Club and the Antiques Show. In addition, she was a Class Correspondent. The Shirley A. Albright Memorial Scholarship Fund carries on Shirley’s legacy by supporting students majoring in chemistry or natural sciences.

Although not an alumnus of Moravian, Alvin Albright is a substantial benefactor of the university and ensures that his sisters’ legacies continue through their scholarship funds. Alvin has been a consistent donor for more than 35 years and is responsible for growing his sisters’ scholarship funds every year. As the last Albright sibling, Alvin is the keeper of the family’s Moravian University memories.

The Albright family philanthropy embodies Moravian’s spirit and has enabled future generations to obtain a Moravian education. Their generosity is an inspiration to all and leaves a lasting legacy for the entire family.

*Deceased

$500,000–$749,999 | Est. 2021

The Thaeler family has a connection with Moravian that dates as far back as the 1800s. Rev. Dr. Arthur David Thaeler Sr.*, a sixth-generation Moravian minister and missionary, graduated from Moravian in 1892. He served on the Board of Trustees of Moravian from 1902 to 1932 and as pastor of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem for 17 years. He was the headmaster of Nazareth Hall, a Moravian boys’ school in Nazareth, PA, from 1918 until its closing in 1929.

Arthur and his wife had two children who attended Moravian. Charles S. Thaeler Sr.* was a member of the Class of 1927. Rev. Dr. A. David Thaeler Jr., MD*, was a graduate of the Moravian Class of 1924 and Moravian Theological Seminary Class of 1926. David married Margaret Ruth Heidenreich*, who graduated from the Moravian College for Women in 1924.

Margaret Ruth Heidenreich Thaeler was the daughter of Moravian ministers and missionaries. Her science studies at Moravian prepared her for a career as a nurse and missionary. After earning her nursing degree from the Kahler School of Nursing at the Mayo Clinic in 1934, Margaret responded to a call from her future husband, David, to work as a nurse in the newly established Bilwaskarma Clinic in Nicaragua. Shortly after her arrival, the two were married in 1935.

In 1936, David and Margaret founded the Ruth Thaeler Memorial Hospital in Bilwaskarma, named for David’s mother. Over the years, the hospital did much to control malaria and tuberculosis in the region. David (in 1950) and Margaret (in 1965) received the Comenius Award from Moravian in recognition of their contributions to the nursing and medical missionary fields. After the hospital complex was destroyed in the Sandinista-Contra war in 1983, the Thaelers were naturally upset. Still, they were most proud of the nurses who graduated from the Bilwaskarma nursing school. The war had not destroyed this heritage or the nurses’ contributions to medical care in Nicaragua and elsewhere.

Two of Margaret and David’s children attended Moravian. A. David Thaeler III was a member of the Class of 1958, and John S. Thaeler, PhD, the Class of 1960. Although David III and John graduated elsewhere, both appreciated the time they spent at Moravian.

The Thaeler family’s legacy at Moravian spans generations. Their service through faith, education, and nursing honors our community’s shared commitment to helping others. They are shining stars in Moravian’s history and an inspiration to future students.

*Deceased

$250,000–$499,999 | Est. 2021 

The Schattschneider family is deeply woven into the fabric of Moravian University. From their educational start at Moravian, they enlightened the lives of others for many years by ministering through the Moravian Church and teaching in the classroom. Through their generosity and leadership, the Schattschneider family has provided educational opportunities and preserved and shared Moravian history.

Rev. William C. Schattschneider* was the first in the Schattschneider family to attend Moravian.  William graduated in 1898 after attending Moravian on a scholarship from Moravian Church.  He went on to graduate from Moravian Theological Seminary in 1900.  As part of his scholarship agreement, he committed to serve the Moravian church as a minister.  He was the founding pastor of Bruederheim Moravian Church near Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.  Fluent in German, he served not only as a pastor but also as an interpreter for his congregation, many of whom were immigrant German farms.  He later served Moravian churches in Minnesota, North Dakota, Calgary (Alberta, Canada), and Wisconsin.  He and his wife Sadie had two sons, Allen and Douglas, both of whom attended Moravian College and Theological Seminary and became ministers.

Rev. Dr. Allen W. Schattschneider* graduated from Moravian in 1923 and Moravian Theological Seminary in 1925. He completed the Doctor of Sacred Theology degree at Biblical Theological Seminary (now New York Theological Seminary) in 1929. He served Moravian congregations in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and was elected bishop in 1961. Bishop Schattschneider served on the Board of Trustees of Moravian from 1956 to 1968. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the seminary in 1958 and received the 1997 John Hus Alumni Award.

Rev. Dr. David A. Schattschneider*, Allen’s son, was a graduate of the Class of 1960. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and a doctorate from the University of Chicago. David’s tenure at the Moravian Theological Seminary began in 1968 as a professor of historical theology and world Christianity. He was elected dean in 1988 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2001. David shaped the understanding and practice of hundreds of pastors, teachers, and church leaders on five continents. By founding the Center for Moravian Studies, he helped the larger world and Moravians themselves see that the history of the Moravians extends to radical roots tracing back to Hus, Comenius, and the Ancient Unity and forward to its diverse, living expressions in North America and around the world.

In 2016, the seminary awarded David an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of his global contributions in the field of Moravian history and his leadership at the seminary. His students and colleagues will remember him for his quick wit, mastery of historical facts and fiction, and sophisticated understanding of the intersection of history and theology. The Allen W. & David A. Schattschneider Scholarship Fund was established in their memory to provide financial assistance to students at the seminary.

Dr. Doris J. Schattschneider, David’s wife, is a Moravian University professor emerita of mathematics. Doris taught at Moravian from 1968 to 2002 and continues to have a tremendous impact on the university and its students. Doris completed her undergraduate studies in mathematics at the University of Rochester and earned a doctorate in mathematics in 1966 from Yale University. She was the first female editor of Mathematics Magazine, from 1981 to 1985, and has been active for more than 50 years in the Mathematical Association of America. Doris has numerous publications and is known for writing and lecturing about the art of M. C. Escher, one of the world’s most famous graphic artists. She has received awards for teaching and writing and was elected a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 1993. Since 2010, she has served on the advisory committee of the National Mathematics Museum in New York City. Doris created the Schattschneider Mathematics & Computer Science Prize at Moravian to help mathematics and computer science majors pursue undergraduate research opportunities or graduate degrees in mathematical sciences.

The Schattschneider family continues to share their love of Moravian University with current and future students to ensure a bright future for generations to come.

*Deceased

$100,000-$249,999 | Est. 2021

For over 50 years, members of the Mittl family have been attending Moravian and supporting our students. Understanding the importance of earning a college education, they are now lighting the way for future generations of Moravian University students through scholarship support.

Ralph M. Mittl is a graduate of Moravian, Class of 1962, and was a member of the baseball team. The 1960 baseball team Ralph played for was inducted into the Moravian University Hall of Fame. Ralph went on to become the owner of the Main Street Depot Restaurant in Bethlehem. He received a 2015 Moravian Star award, recognizing alumni who have excelled in their careers, contributed to their communities, and assisted Moravian students through internships and other opportunities.

Ralph F. Mittl was the first to follow in his father’s footsteps, graduating with the Class of 1986. Ralph was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Mu Epsilon, and a 2015 Moravian Star award recipient. He has had a successful career in financial services and consulting and remains involved at Moravian through membership in the Leadership Council. Ralph established the Mittl Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Georgian Mittl Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund (in honor of his mother), and the Ralph M. Mittl Endowed Business Scholarship Fund (in honor of his father). These endowments ensure future generations of students will receive the scholarship support they need. Ralph’s son, Matthew, is a graduate of Moravian in the Class of 2020.

David Mittl was the second of Ralph M. Mittl’s children to attend Moravian, graduating in 1990. He was a member of the baseball and soccer teams and a 2001 Hall of Fame inductee. David was a 2015 Moravian Star award recipient. His son, Michael, is a graduate of Moravian, Class of 2019, and a baseball team member like his father and grandfather.

Jeff Mittl was the third of Ralph M.’s sons to graduate from Moravian, Class of 1996. He played baseball and soccer at Moravian and was a 2015 Moravian Star award recipient.

Ralph F., David, and Jeff’s niece, Calli Mosebach, the daughter of Joellen Mittl Mosebach, is a graduate of Moravian, Class of 2020. Calli was a member of the cheerleading team and ​​Alpha Sigma Tau.  

The Mittl family epitomizes the traditions of Moravian University. Their commitment and generosity shine a bright light on the future of our students for generations.