A Perfect Blend
For Jack and Marilyn Osborn, a blind date plus four sons was a winning combination.
The couple married and blended their families (two boys each). The age span of 12 years didn’t stop the boys from becoming brothers.
“When one of the older boys was home from college, and they were sharing a bathroom, I’d remind him that ‘you might want to be careful with the hairdryer around your little brothers,’” Marilyn said. “And I’d be trying to keep the little ones from waking up the older ones and vice versa.”
“When I married Marilyn, I got two more sons,” Jack said.
Today their conversation around sons “one through four” and five grandchildren is mingled with amusement and love.
“I would tell them, ‘my job is to keep you from going to jail or dying,’” Marilyn said. “You protect them. Now they appreciate it.”
“Any parent thinks their family is spectacular,” Jack smiled.
Children aren’t the only project this couple has balanced together.
Volunteering for local arts organizations is a passion. The Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) are among favorites.
“It’s very rewarding. You always hear people say you get more than you give − it’s true. It’s wonderful just being around some of these outstanding organizations and learning how they work,” Marilyn said.
As a team, they’ve raised $30 million for the CSO’s endowment and recently chaired its New Year’s Eve Gala. They’ve even allowed local musicians to use their sound-friendly living room for a recording space.
The Osborns opened their donor advised fund with GCF in the early 1980s.
“It’s a seamless way to give,” said Marilyn, who is a senior portfolio manager at Bartlett & Co. “GCF keeps evolving and growing ideas that are beneficial for donors.”
“As you grow older, a family foundation sounds terrific, but it’s a lot of work,” Jack, the retired owner of a refrigeration company, said. “GCF makes it easy. We’ve convinced our friends to use GCF.”
A love for travel complements their passion for the arts. Jack laughs and shares when he was told a beautiful statue from Sicily couldn’t be mailed home, “I carried it home in my gym bag…”
Marilyn adds that the bag was stuffed with socks.
Probably well-matched pairs, just like the Osborns.
Additional resources
Other features from the 2010 Annual Report