Photos: Jack Lussier's legacy
Jack Lussier’s philanthropy touched many lives, especially among children. Lussier, who formerly served as the chairman of The Capital Times board and the president of The Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Cap Times, contributed millions of dollars to projects around the city, many of which bear his name, including: both the east and west branches of the Lussier Family YMCA plus Jack’s splash pad at the East Y, the Lussier Teen Center at the Goodman Community Center, the Lussier Family Heritage Center, the Lussier Community Education Center, Lussier Stadium at La Follette High School, Lussier Park at Fish Lake, Lussier scholarships at MATC and several features at the Henry Vilas Zoo. Lussier was also the nephew and one of the principal heirs of William T. Evjue, the founder of The Capital Times. Lussier died on Friday at age 90.
Said Betty Harris Custer, who chaired the capital campaign for the Lussier Community Education Center, “(Madison’s) a much better place because Jack Lussier lived here. All any of us can hope for is that we’ve left a mark on the community we lived in.”
From left to right, Andy Koch and Oheneba Asare of the La Follette Lancers huddle with Jack Lussier, who funded the stadium, and Eric Johnson and Jeremy Thornton of the East High Purgolders. At the time of this photo in August 2003, new locker rooms were being installed at Lussier Stadium.
Jack Lussier poses in the Education Garden at the Henry Vilas Zoo, one of the many projects he funded.
In 2010, Jack Lussier donated money to build a new "education garden" (shown behind him) at Madison's Henry Vilas Zoo. The garden, as well as a walkway and viewing deck, are at the entrance to the Children's Zoo. The 25 plants are intended to teach visitors, especially children, about garden fruits and vegetables and will be fed to the animals. Lussier, chairman of the board of The Capital Times Co., also contributed the Jack Lussier Conservation Education Pavilion in the heart of the zoo.
In this file photo from Sept. 28, 2000, YMCA board Vice President Carole McGuire and Mary Lee Steinmuller thank Jack Lussier for a $500,000 gift to the organization.
The east and west side branches of Madison's YMCAs are named for Jack Lussier, who gave millions of dollars in support to the organization.
John H. "Jack" Lussier (the big kid in the middle) addresses the crowd before cutting the ribbon to the new splash pad at the East YMCA.
In this file photo from 2006, Malia Horgen, 5, of Madison, shoots a water canon at Jacksplash, a splash park at the Lussier Family YMCA East on a hot July day.
Teenagers play basketball as part of the "Friday Nights at the Y" program at the Lussier Family West YMCA in Madison on Friday, June 12, 2015.
Former Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, center, is pictured in this file photo from Nov. 30, 2004, announcing another $700,000 in donations - half of the remaining $1.4 million that was needed for Madison's first public swimming pool. Irwin and Robert Goodman gave $500,000, bringing their total gift to $2.5 million. Standing with Cieslewicz are, from left, Judy Lowell of American Family Insurance, which gave $100,000, Jack Lussier of the Evjue Foundation, which gave $100,000, fund-raising committee co-chair Rick Phelps and pool committee chairman Nino Amato.
Jack Lussier (with sunglasses) and others cut the ribbon used to celebrate the installation of new playground equipment at the Lussier Community Education Center on Oct. 6, 2010.
Jack Lussier cuts cake to help celebrate the installation of new playground equipment at the Lussier Community Education Center on Oct. 6, 2010.
Volunteers help install new playground equipment at the Lussier Community Education Center on Oct. 6, 2010.
Benefactor Jack Lussier (left) joins Becky Steinhoff and Todd Hipke of the Atwood Community Center and teen center director Howard Hayes (right) at the reopening party of the Lussier Teen Center in December 2004.
In this file photo from September 2008, East High School's John Rodin works on algebra lessons with students inside the Lussier Teen Center, which moved from its previous home on East Washington Avenue and became part of the Goodman Community Center.
In this file photo from Aug. 22, 2000, supporters of the Lussier Family Heritage Center listen to Dane Co. Parks chief Kenneth LePine talk about the purpose of new center. Jack Lussier is fifth from right of shovelers.
The Lussier Family Heritage Center at Lake Farm County Park, as seen from the Lower Yahara River Trail, in August 2017.
In this file photo, Bill Lunney, Chair of Dane County Park Commission, (far right) talks with Kathleen Falk, (l-r), former Dane County Executive, Rick Phelps, former Dane County Executive, Jonathan Barry, former Dane County Executive, and Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive during the Friends of Dane County Parks Endowment Fundraiser at the Lussier Family Heritage Center on May 15, 2014.
People gather during the Eid celebration at Lussier Family Heritage Center in Madison in June. The center hosts community gatherings and events.
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Lussier, who died on Friday, was a major Madison philanthropist. He contributed millions of dollars to projects around the city, many of which bear his name.
To the Madison Community: