Longtime supporter of Marshall remembered

The Marshall community is mourning the loss of a longtime supporter and friend.

Elizabeth Gibson Drinko, 88, who was a major contributor to Marshall University with her husband, John Deaver Drinko, passed away Aug. 22, at her residence in Lyndhurst, Ohio.

The Drinko's were recognized for supporting academic programs, including the John Deaver Drinko Library as well as other major endowments.

"She was truly passionate about education for kids," said Barbara Becker-Cottrill, executive director of Marshall University's West Virginia Autism Training Center. "They weren't just donating money, they actually participated and put in the time to help."

Becker-Cottrill wrote a book "Autism: A Primer for Educators," that she dedicated to Drinko.

Becker-Cottrill said Drinko aided in funding the book and helped put it in the hands of educators.

"She had a broad range of interests," said Alan Gould, executive director of the John Deaver Drinko Academy for American Political Institutions and Civic Culture. "They were both very well-known and generally cared for people and the community."

The three organizations Drinko was most interested in were the libraries, the H.E.L.P. program and the West Virginia Autism program that is housed at Marshall University, Gould said.

"She called these programs the three Barbara's.  They were all very close," he said.

The programs are ran by Barbara Winters, Marshall dean of libraries, Barbara Guyer, director emeritus of the H.E.L.P program, and Barbara Beckell-Cottrill.  

Gould has known Drinko since the early 1980s, he said.

"My wife and I became very close to them and their children," Gould said. "They were very well-known throughout the area."

Gould said at one time they were a part of up to 25 different organizations, all related to helping people.

Drinko was a member of the Church of the Covenant in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Council of Panhellenic, the Cleveland Institute of Electronics, the World College, the Double D Ranch, the John D. and Elizabeth G. Drinko Charitable Foundation, and The Mellen Foundation.  

Drinko was a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and a mother of four children, Elizabeth Lee Sullivan, Diana Lynn Drinko, John Randall Drinko and Jay Deaver Drinko.

She graduated in 1940 from Crafton High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and president of both the student council and the Leaders Corps.

She earned three honorary doctoral degrees, which were from Marshall University, Westminster College and Keystone College.

"She was very loyal to her school in Pennsylvania, but was very dedicated here at Marshall University," Gould said.

Drew Hetzer can be contacted at Hetzer3@marshall.edu.