I found this amazing and generous Searing gift story on the Florida State University web site. I’m sure there is more to learn about this generous couple, and I look forward to finding additional information. As stated, Arthur and Ulla Searing are responsible for the Feb. 3 (2007) opening of the Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Wing at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Fla., according to an article by Jeffery Seay, Editor, Florida State Times, at http://www.fsu.com/pages/2007/03/13/RinglingRenaissance.html. “The Searing Wing is named for generous local philanthropist Ulla Searing and her late husband, Arthur. Searings pledge of $6.5 million was signed in 2005 and matches half of the buildings construction costs in endowment.” More detail is available in the article at the FSU site noted above. If any of our readers knows some additional history of this generous gift, please send it to me or add a comment.
Dan