Why I Give: Family Ties to Principia

“By giving to Principia, we feel we’re helping its purpose to serve the Cause of Christian Science,” Bill Romaine says. “And it is indeed very worthy of our support.”

Bill and Dona regularly participate in Orange County Principia Club activities. Last year, they met members of Principia’s solar car team at a club event and loved learning about the new car and upcoming races. They also attended Summer Session in the 1980s, thoroughly enjoying the classes and camaraderie. “I enjoyed learning without taking tests!” Bill says. “I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Bill’s background is in accounting. After flying cargo planes in the South Pacific during WWII, he earned a degree in accounting at the University of Southern California and went on to a successful career as an accountant in the aeronautics industry for such giants as McDonnell Douglas, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Ford Aerospace.

A former elementary school teacher, Dona attended San Diego State as an undergraduate and earned a master’s degree at Pepperdine University to become a reading specialist. “I wanted to attend Principia, but my family didn’t have the means at that time,” Dona says. “This makes giving to Principia all the more meaningful, because I know that it helps students attend who may not be able to otherwise.”

Bill and Dona have many Principians in their blended family. (Both were widowed with grown children when they married.) Two of their children attended the College—Stephen Jon Romaine (C’75), who lives in Tokyo, Japan, with his wife, Machiko Romaine (C’76), and Jonathan Reed Barner (C’75), who lives in Arcadia, California, with his wife, Hilary Barner (C’69).

Ever since fall of 2013, the Romaines stay even more up to date with Principia through Dona’s granddaughter Shelby Barner, who made quite a splash (literally) as a freshman on the College swim team. She swam personal bests in all her events that year and has already made the Top Ten list in one individual and two relay events. “Shelby’s having a wonderful experience at Principia, and I’m so grateful she’s there,” Dona says.