News Story
March 26, 2025
Long-Time Benefactors James and Marti Dill Pledge $1 Million to La Roche University
PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2025 – A generous $1 million bequest from James Dill ’77 and his wife Marti will help La Roche University advance its mission and benefit students for years to come.
This transformational gift will support three key initiatives: expanding La Roche’s Introcaso Center for Lifelong Learning to enhance programs for adult learners; addressing food insecurity by expanding the University’s food pantry and meal assistance programs; and strengthening resources for international students with improved support and integration services.
The bequest reflects the deep appreciation the Dills hold for the University and the role La Roche played in shaping Mr. Dill’s life and career success.
“La Roche has a very warm, loving atmosphere that provides its students with the support they need. We want to continue that legacy,” Mr. Dill said.
Dr. Christina Clark, president of La Roche, said the bequest is one more example of the Dills’ ongoing generosity. “We are very grateful to the Dills for their support of La Roche for nearly five decades. They exemplify the value of a La Roche education and continue to live in the spirit of the University’s mission,” she said. “Their generous bequest ensures that, far into the future, others will have the opportunity to excel in their careers and to serve their communities in meaningful ways.”
After graduating from high school, Mr. Dill was drafted into the Navy and later joined La Roche in 1974, where he double majored in math and business administration.
“He really thrived at La Roche in a way that he would not have on a campus of 20,000 people,” Ms. Dill said. “If he needed help, they noticed. If they thought he could do better, they challenged him. Going to a smaller school made a big difference then, and it still does.”
Soon after graduating, the couple married and embarked on an adventurous journey, driving to Long Beach, CA, in a 17-foot U-Haul with only $500, no jobs and no place to live. Within two days, they found a home and received job offers. After six years working for a small, family-owned business, Mr. Dill joined Teledyne Technologies where he spent 36 years and eventually retired in 2020.
Mr. and Mrs. Dill dedicated much of their time to volunteering in their Long Beach community for 28 years, with Ms. Dill working as a hospice volunteer and Mr. Dill teaching fitness classes at the YMCA. After retiring in Forest Hill, CA, Ms. Dill continued her volunteer efforts with hospice, a food pantry and transporting seniors to appointments.
“When students are treated with empathy, as they are at La Roche, they emulate what they receive,” Mr. Dill said. “I don’t think you ever lose that desire to take care of others.”
For more information on planned giving and legacy contributions, please visit laroche.plannedgiving.org or contact George Barron, vice president for University Advancement, at 412-536-1096 or george.barron@laroche.edu
About La Roche University: An independent liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 68 undergraduate programs of study, seven master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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