BY: ALYSSA LALLY

When Bob (DDS ’73) and Mary Fry, Ph.D., walked onto the UMKC campus together in 1977, just two weeks after they were married, they couldn’t have known how deeply their lives would become intertwined with the university. For the next 55 years, UMKC was not just a place to learn and work; it became part of their family story.

Bob, an alumnus of the UMKC School of Dentistry, went on to serve on the University of Missouri Board of Curators that oversees UM System universities, always advocating for the future of Missouri’s students. Mary (B.A. ’72), an alumna of the UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, devoted her career to counseling and child therapy. Today, she continues to share her expertise as a grant-funded consultant for the school’s counseling and child therapy programs.

Their connection to UMKC didn’t stop there. Their son, Jeremy Fry, followed in their footsteps and now volunteers as adjunct faculty for the Department of Orthodontics in the School of Dentistry; another generation strengthening the bond between the Fry family and UMKC.

For Bob and Mary Fry, giving back has always been a natural extension of the gratitude they feel for the opportunities UMKC provided them. That’s why they chose to make a legacy gift through the UMKC Foundation to ensure that a university close to their hearts will thrive for generations to come.

The Frys chose to designate their legacy gift to Bob Fry’s alma mater, the School of Dentistry, along with the School of Science and Engineering and the Conservatory. These designations reflect their shared passions for supporting young people as well as innovation and the arts, reinforcing the university’s strengths in creativity and discovery.

In the School of Science and Engineering, the Frys are inspired by Dean Kevin Truman’s leadership in advancing world-changing research and STEM education.

“STEM careers are in demand and will continue to be,” Bob Fry said. “With Mary being a child therapist and me being an orthodontist, we are both in the ‘kid’ business, and we see the benefit of STEM education across the lifespan.”

As lovers of the arts, the Frys are also passionate about the Conservatory’s vibrant blend of music, dance and theater, and its benefit to the community. The Conservatory brings joy to the lives of the audiences who witness its performances, the couple said.

For decades, the Fry family have been ardent supporters of UMKC, and thanks to their legacy gift, that will be the case for decades more to come.