This spring, Illinois College of Optometry received a gift of $2.7 million from the estate of Ronald M. Kendrick, OD ’54 (NICO), DO. This extraordinary act of generosity represents the culmination of a lifelong story of love, perseverance, and faith. 

ICO President Mark K. Colip, OD ’92, called the gift “truly transformational,” noting that “it stands as the largest bequest in ICO’s more than 150–year history and among the largest estate gifts to an independent college of optometry. More than its size, however, the gift represents a lasting investment in the future, it will provide meaningful support to ICO’s brightest students for generations to come.” 

Born and raised in Berwyn, Illinois, Ronald Kendrick came of age during one of the most challenging chapters in modern history. Shortly after high school graduation, his deep sense of duty led him to enlist in the U.S. Army, joining the 3rd Armored Division during World War II. This experience set the course for the rest of his life. 

It was during the war that Ronald met Thea, a young woman from Estonia in northeastern Europe. Amid the chaos of war, Thea had tried to flee the Soviet advance aboard a hospital ship that was tragically sunk by a Russian torpedo. More than 3,500 lives were lost; Thea was one of only 350 survivors. Rescued by a passing warship, she was taken to Germany, where she began to rebuild her life. At war’s end, Thea joined the American Red Cross, serving U.S. soldiers stationed in Europe. In those turbulent years, duty and compassion became the foundation of the bond between Thea and Ronald — a bond that would endure for a lifetime. 

When the war ended, Ronald returned to the United States, determined to build a life defined by service and purpose. With support from the ’GI Bill’, he attended the University of Illinois at Chicago. Thea soon joined him. Kendrick went on to earn his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Northern Illinois College of Optometry and later his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, establishing a career as an ophthalmologist surgeon. 

Colip said, “Ronald loved learning and found deep fulfillment in his career. He spoke often of his time at ICO and credited that experience as the catalyst for his continued education and professional success.” 

Thea built a long and successful career with Western Electric and worked for the company for 36 years, even after the couple relocated to Toledo, Ohio. She regularly traveled from Ohio to Chicago by bus or train, demonstrating the same determination that had carried her through life. Together, Ronald and Thea led a life rich in purpose. They were active in their church and community, explored German culture and history, and loved to travel, especially to Estonia where they often visited to reconnect with family and draw inspiration from the beauty of Thea's homeland. 

In 2011, Thea Kendrick died after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. In 2013, Colip, then part of ICO’s advancement team, visited Kendrick during an alumni engagement trip through Ohio. 

“Dr. Kendrick was welcoming,” Colip recalled. “We met for nearly three hours, talking about his personal and professional journey and his many hobbies. He was deeply involved in his church and was a talented singer. Though he lived modestly, he had one indulgence: an incredible woodworking studio. He crafted beautiful, intricate rocking horses that he donated to local churches and children’s hospitals. What was most evident throughout our conversation was how devoted he remained to Thea. She was, without question, the love of his life.” 

That visit marked the beginning of a lasting relationship between Kendrick and ICO. Over the years, he and Colip stayed in touch, sharing updates about his life, his memories of ICO and his pride in the profession that had given him so much. Their conversations often returned to the values he and Thea shared: faith, service and generosity. In time, Kendrick began exploring ways to give back to the college that had shaped his career and, in doing so, honor the memory of his beloved wife. 

“Dr. Kendrick was clear that he wanted to create a scholarship in Thea’s name,” Colip said. “He wasn’t interested in accolades while he was alive; he simply wanted to help as many students as possible. He estimated a gift of $1 million. Initially, he hoped to assist students of Estonian descent, but he understood that might be challenging. He expanded his vision to include students from Ohio and Illinois. Ultimately, he wanted to support promising future optometrists who shared his dedication to learning and service.” 

When the pandemic struck, communication became difficult. Kendrick’s health declined, and travel restrictions made visits impossible. In December 2023, Colip received word from Kendrick’s attorney that he had died and that the college would soon be contacted about the estate. 

“It was a difficult call to receive,” Colip reflected. “Over 10 years, we developed a meaningful connection built on mutual respect and shared interests. Dr. Kendrick believed in working hard, in the power of education, and in serving others. The scholarship he created is designed to ease the financial burdens students face and to give them the freedom to build careers they can be proud of — careers that help others and advance the profession.” 

The Thea M. Kendrick Memorial Scholarship stands as a lasting expression of two lives shaped by faith, compassion and perseverance. For Kendrick, this bequest was not simply an act of generosity, it was a continuation of the shared purpose he and Thea carried with them throughout their lives. Through the scholarship that bears her name, generations of ICO students will pursue their education, serve their communities and carry forward the same spirit of love and service that defined the Kendricks. 

“When Dr. Kendrick’s estate attorney informed us that the bequest totaled $2.7 million, more than double his original estimate, I was both astonished and deeply grateful for his extraordinary generosity”, said Colip, “ This year we will proudly award the inaugural Thea M. Kendrick Memorial Scholarship, in celebration of Ronald and Thea Kendrick and their enduring legacy of love, perseverance and faith.”