From Mary Tempel’s Bicentennial Medal (2020) and IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award (2017) to Gene Tempel’s IU Distinguished Alumni Service Award (2025), the honors celebrating their generosity and commitment to Indiana University could fill a display case.
Yet when you meet Mary and Gene Tempel, it’s not the accolades that leave the strongest impression—it’s their warmth and genuine partnership. High school sweethearts who have shared more than 50 years together, they continue to live out values that have guided their lives: service to Indiana and a deep belief in the power of education.
Small-Town Roots, Lasting Values
Mary and Gene’s story began in the heart of rural Indiana, with Mary hailing from Ferdinand and Gene from nearby St. Meinrad. Growing up on family farms taught them the value of hard work, perseverance, and a deep sense of community and service to others.
Gene recalled one vivid example from a tragic moment in his childhood: the day his family’s home burned down. Although the house was nearly gone, the town’s all-volunteer fire department battled the flames through the night. And when the flames were finally extinguished, the neighbors rallied by bringing food and clothing, offering a place to stay, and helping to rebuild.
“In small towns everywhere, people help one another,” Gene reflected.
Mary and Gene also attended the area’s Catholic schools, where the lessons had a lasting impact.
“By the time we graduated high school, we had a deep understanding of the Benedictine value of hospitality and caring for others,” Gene recalled.
A Lifelong Journey
Mary and Gene would live the values they learned as children in creating meaningful change for countless others.
Among his many accomplishments, Gene became president of IU Foundation, co-founded the IU Center on Philanthropy, and served as founding dean of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, playing a pivotal role in shaping the academic study of giving and nonprofit leadership. He was named one of the 50 most influential leaders in the nonprofit sector by The NonProfit Times more than a dozen times.
Mary, driven by her own desire to help others, devoted her career to nursing including providing compassionate bedside care and mentoring younger nurses.
"Nursing was so rewarding, I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” she recalled.
In 1997, at what she proudly called “a fabulous 50 years old,” Mary earned her Master’s in Primary Health Care from IU, opening the door for her to become a nurse practitioner in dermatology and enabling her to care for patients more fully and independently. In encouraging others to pursue lifelong learning, she said, “You can go back at any time! An advanced degree was important then and even more so now.”
Mary also served two terms on the IU School of Nursing Advisory Board, was named one of IU’s Top 100 Alumni Legacy Leaders, and continues to represent IU and the School of Nursing at numerous events on campus, across the country, and at IU Foundation and alumni gatherings.
Nursing Fund and RISE Scholarship
Mary’s experiences as a nurse, along with her lifelong dedication to the profession has inspired two meaningful gifts to the School of Nursing:
- The Mary J. Tempel School of Nursing Fund: a planned gift to be used at the discretion of the School of Nursing Dean.
- The Mary and Gene Tempel RISE Scholarship: supporting nursing students committed to service.
“Gene and I both understood how important it is for student nurses to engage with and stay connected to the community,” Mary shared.
“That same commitment extends beyond community to leadership at the highest levels,” Mary added. “Public policy and legislation are more important than ever. IU is among the few nursing schools in Indiana offering a PhD program and providing leadership for other nursing programs, which is why we are so proud to support it.”
Family and Future
Family remains at the heart of the Tempel story.
Mary and Gene have raised three accomplished sons—an attorney, a teacher, and a budding neurosurgeon. Together, they enjoy spending time with their six grandchildren, one of whom aspires to be a nurse. An IU family through and through, the Tempels and their children proudly hold six IU degrees.
They also champion Outrun the Sun, an Indianapolis nonprofit dedicated to skin cancer education and research. Mary has served on its Board of Directors since its founding in 2004 and Gene serves on its President’s Council. In collaboration with the IU School of Medicine, Outrun the Sun developed a program that focuses on helping medical students detect skin cancer at its earliest stages. Mary’s dream project isnow seeking funding andaims to expand that program to the IU School of Nursing, which can then launch the program nationally and internationally as the School of Medicine did.
Beyond IU and Outrun the Sun, the Tempels generously support such organizations as the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Conner Prairie, the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, the United Way, and the Red Cross.
“Our philanthropy has always been a team effort,” said Mary.
“No contribution gets made unless we both agree,” added Gene.
“And we always agree,” smiled Mary. “That’s why we’ve been together for 50 years.”