Artoe Italian Heritage and Culture Scholarship
Lee and Elaine Artoe established the Artoe Italian Heritage and Culture Endowed Fund in memory of his parents, John and Mary S. Artoe in 1999. A member of the class of 1939, Lee met Elaine and they married soon after.
During his time at Santa Clara, Lee was a member of the football team. Lee became a professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL) and All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for 7 seasons. A tackle, he played for the NFL’s Chicago Bears (1940-1942, 1945). In the AAFC, he played for the Los Angeles Dons (1946-1947) and Baltimore Colts (1948).
Following football, he went into business selling carbon arc lighting, used in projectors, to movie theaters. Having obtained a degree in chemistry, he spent his career as an engineer in Chicago. Lee was inducted into the Santa Clara Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.
Impact
The Artoe Italian Heritage and Culture Endowed Fund shall provide financial assistance for undergraduate students participating in Italian cultural and language programs and to enable those who live in the Casa Italiana. Preference will be given to students who have an understanding of the experiences, values, and traditions of Italian culture, as evidenced by either a declared majors or minor in Italian, or by their participation in Italian cultural programs made available through Santa Clara University, especially the Casa Italiana living and learning program.