Thelma Linsey, widow of former Brandeis Trustee Joseph Linsey, donated $1 million to "support the programs and operations of the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center, including the pool" Jan. 19, according to David Nathan, director of development communications.

"In a conversation I had with Mrs. Linsey today, she mentioned how proud Mr. Linsey would be to see what Brandeis has become today," wrote Nathan in an email to the Justice.  

Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa '90 wrote in an email to the Justice that she values Linsey's most recent gift.

"We have always appreciated the generosity of the Linsey family.  The late Joe Linsey, who is a member of the Brandeis Athletic Hall of Fame, was a huge supporter of our athletics program and his wife Mrs. Thelma Linsey continues to be as well," wrote Sousa.

Nathan wrote that Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement Nancy Winship, P '10, P '12 regularly meets with Linsey. University President Frederick Lawrence met with Linsey in early January to discuss the million-dollar gift, wrote Nathan.

Joseph and Thelma Linsey have been longtime supporters of Brandeis and funded the initial construction of the pool. 

The recently completed $3.5 million renovation of the pool was funded separately, through a $10-million capital lease finance agreement, wrote Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Frances Drolette in an email to the Justice in April 2011. The term for the lease is seven years with an annual interest expense of about $150,000 per year. The annual principal payments on the lease are $1.3 million and it is funded through the capital budget, according to Drolette.

—Andrew Wingens