Centers of Excellence - The American College

Individual Gifts in 2011An Unforgettable DonorNed Packell was like many insurance agents in that he deeply enjoyed taking care ofpeople. Through the magic of life insurance he could provide a family with peace ofmind or protect a businessman’s livelihood. But Packell also differed from the typicalagent in one major way. He used the product he believed in the most to make alegendary gift to the nonprofit institution that helped shape his career.Packell, who passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 9, 2011 at age 68, gifted a$500,000 life insurance policy to The American College in 1988. He spent his lifeprotecting the lives of others, and in his death he helped protect the future of thegreat profession that provided him with so much joy.Ned Packell, CLU ® , ChFC ® , MSFS,RHU ® , REBC ®“I remember him talking about insurance at the kitchen table since we were bigenough to sit there,” said Kimberly Deardorff, Packell’s daughter. “It was his passion. He was helping people take care oftheir families or their businesses. It’s easier to sell something you believe in and he absolutely believed in insurance.”Packell was also a strong believer in education. Beginning in 1961, he graduated as valedictorian of his class at CasciaHall Preparatory School, received a college degree from the University of Tulsa, and went on to earn five designationsand degrees from The American College over the course of 28 years.A graduate of the CLU ® , ChFC ® , MSFS, RHU ® , and REBC ® programs, he proudly displayed his diplomas and certificatesin his office. His relationship with The American College also included Annual Fund donations and contributions to theGolden Key Society. Packell was a very successful general agent, achieving membership in Top of the Table and lifetimemembership in the Million Dollar Round Table.His life held many fascinating adventures. He loved to travel, whether it was spending summer family vacations in SanibelIsland or embarking on an African safari with his son, Elliott, in 2000. He was a marathon runner who had a black belt inTae Kwon Do. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of 58, without oxygen.Packell was also known for his quick wit and sharp mind. He belonged to Mensa, the high IQ society which boastsmembers who score in the top 2 percent of the general population on an approved intelligence test. One of his favoritepastimes was playing gin rummy, a thinking man’s game. He had a knack for remembering every card that was played,making him tough to beat.Packell made his $500,000 life insurance gift to The American College through the 21 st Century Endowment Fund. Giftslike his are vitally important to the continuation of The College’s mission of providing the best in financial serviceseducation. They help ensure The College maintains a faculty of the foremost thought leaders, develops current courseofferings such as the new Chartered Healthcare Consultant designation, conducts public awareness and advertisingcampaigns, and delivers cutting-edge digital content on a variety of platforms including The Wealth Channel ® .If you are interested in making a planned gift of life insurance to The American College, please contact Allen Thomas,JD, CAP ® , Vice President of Advancement, at 610-526-1422 or Allen.Thomas@TheAmericanCollege.edu28