David and Jan Tweet Planned their Legacy to Include Folkestone

To know why David Tweet moved to Folkestone is to also know his departed wife, Jan. He moved to the PHS community in Wayzata, Minn., in June 2022, one year after Jan passed on after enduring a courageous time with cancer. “We discussed our legacies at length,” says David. “Part of Jan’s legacy for me was to move to Folkestone. She knew that I would be surrounded by caring neighbors, social opportunities and an enriching environment. She was right.”

David and Jan met at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and are lifelong devotees of the college’s music programs. David majored in chemistry and was immediately employed by Cargill, beginning a career with polyurethane-focused spin-off companies that are now known as Tandem Products. Jan majored in English and her love of children nudged her to become an elementary school in the Bloomington, Minn. school district for 36 years. Choral singing brought them together. Jan was a member of the Manitou Singers; David a member of the Viking Chorus.

“Jan lit up rooms everywhere, especially her classrooms,” David shares. “When news spread about her death, I received countless letters from students and their parents. One described how it was Jan that completely changed an elementary student’s life course. That was Jan.”

Like many of us, Jan and David had many parts of their legacies to consider when developing their plans. They had treasured personal collections to consider and re-home. Another consideration was their fondness for all that St. Olaf brought to their lives. “Planning our gift to St. Olaf provided Jan with a positive experience to look forward to while living with cancer,” David recounts. Their gift named the Tweet Hall of Music and established scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Music majors with financial needs. “We structured our future gift in a way that we could see some of the outcome in our lifetimes,” David adds. Tweet Hall was dedicated in June 2022 and David was able to attend to celebration. Jan passed on a few days later on June 13, 2022.

David and Jan’s promise to each other was to donate an agreed-upon portion of their assets. Whomever outlived the other had the responsibility to deliver on that promise. “That’s my job now,” notes David. “And there are more decisions that I’ve made recently, like including Folkestone in my estate plans. It was important to Jan that I live here, and in turn, it’s important to me to give here.”

At Folkestone, David enjoys meeting neighbors for daily breakfasts and cozying up with a book in the South Lounge to read and greet residents who pass by. He recently joined the Woodshop Group and is busy helping to restore furniture for residents and common areas at Folkestone. “We do need each other at times,” he shares. “Part of my legacy is also to help when I can, share a positive word and have fun with my neighbors. I’ve even had the chance to play Cupid here!”

With spring around the corner, David is looking forward to continuing to honor Jan at Folkestone. “I’m in conversation with our resident gardeners about planting two of Jan’s favorite flowers, dahlias and sunflowers, in the North Courtyard. And I’ll be baking and sharing her favorite rhubarb meringue pie with friends and neighbors.”

Like David and Jan, many PHS residents choose to also include their PHS community along with loved ones and other favorite charities in their will, trust or beneficiary designation plans. If you would like to learn more about joining the Legacy Society by making a future gift, please contact the Presbyterian Homes Foundation.