What Kids Should Know About the Legacy of Jack Lussier

by Sylvia Hoks, age 12

Henry Vilas Zoo, Olbrich Gardens, the YMCA, Goodman Community Center, and the Salvation Army are a few of many organizations Jack Lussier supported and funded. For many years, his generous donations contributed to important projects in and around Madison. Without the help of Jack Lussier, our city would not be the same.

Lussier was born in 1927 and grew up during the Great Depression. He was later the president of the Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of The Capital Times, a newspaper that his uncle Willian T. Evjue founded.

When Jack Lussier passed away in 2018, leaders of local youth organizations praised his many contributions to kids.

“He has left a real legacy in our city. You drive around, you see his name on so many things in the city of Madison. I think people will be talking about Jack Lussier for decades,” said Michael Johnson, the former president and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. (Mr. Johnson recently passed away)

Lussier wanted children to have a good education and believed in places like the Simpson Street Free Press. He liked the idea of an after-school program where kids could write in student newspapers, which would help their reading and writing skills.

Jim Kramer, the executive director at Simpson Street Free Press, said, “Jack believed that these kids would want to do this, and that they would use this opportunity to improve their school grades.”

In 2018, Kramer told a Cap Times reporter how Lussier had the ability to talk with the children. “I just thought it was such an episode of community, him walking around the newsroom and a bunch of kids showing him their articles and all their edits.”

Many other projects were supported by Lussier’s philanthropy, such as the Lussier Community Education Center (LCEC). The LCEC was based on the need for a new center originating from the Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center. The old center was way too small for the number of kids attending.

The nearly impossible amount of 4.5 million dollars was needed in order to build a 12,000 square foot facility. Many people saw the project as a “pipe dream,” until Lussier donated $600,000. Now, the new LCEC is located on the west side of Madison, and the organization hosts youth programs and community events.

Jack Lussier died on July 27th, 2018, at the age of 90. His philanthropy impacted many local organizations and turned many dreams into realities. Lussier’s kindness and support will not be forgotten.

[Sources: The Capital Times; Madison.com; United Way of Dane County; Simpson Street Archives]