John and Ruanne Opie
Weston, Connecticut
Gift Designation
Type of Gift
Upgrade Tech’s Athletic Facilities
John and Ruanne Opie donated $1 million for the construction of ten new suites in Michigan Tech's John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The new suites, all on the west end of the rink, can accommodate eight to fourteen people each and three skyboxes for larger groups. Tech hockey coach Jamie Russell is grateful for Ruanne and John Opie’s great generosity, which he said will help his team with recruiting.
Mr. Opie graduated from Michigan Tech with a BS in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in 1961. He delivered Tech’s commencement address in 1987 and again in 2001, receiving Honorary Doctorates in Engineering and Business. He spent most of his career with General Electric, retiring in 2000 as vice chairman/executive director.
The Opies previously funded a 54,000-square-foot addition to the library and established an endowment to support the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
For more information on the wide range of options to support Michigan Tech, contact the Office of Gift Planning.