Employee Giving: Gus De Siervo

August “Gus” De Siervo is a donor with a big heart, whose generosity spreads to his family, loved ones, and the University of Maine. Starting in 1969, Gus was a professor in the Biochemistry and Microbiology department for 30 years during which he shared his passion for STEM education with his students and fellow faculty members, “I was very happy working at the University of Maine for 30 years. I worked in the department and I really enjoyed it and enjoyed the people. I didn’t go to school here — I went to graduate school and post-graduate at Rutgers in New Jersey and New York University Medical school before I got the job here — but I felt this was really my home.”

In his retirement, Gus made the decision to honor his loved ones while also helping students with the financial burden that comes with higher education. He has established 3 scholarships in memory of his loved ones who have died and has allocated money to students who share the passions they did in life.

Alexander Mykytiuk was Gus’ father-in-law. He passed away in 1986 and left behind his love for classical music. Alexander was the maestro for the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra in Ukraine and his wife was a concert pianist. When the second world war began, Alexander and his family had to leave Ukraine and the symphony behind. They eventually ended up in New Jersey where their daughter, Liuba, attended college and met her future husband, Gus. Alexander had a degree in law as well as music, and upon coming to the U.S. he was able to continue using his musical knowledge and skill. When he died, Gus decided to memorialize him through a scholarship that would assist undergraduate students studying classical or choral music at the University of Maine.

Gus met Liuba Mykytiuk in an undergraduate microbiology class. They graduated, married, pursued careers in their fields, and had three children. Liuba worked as chemist before moving to Maine and encouraged Gus to continue his studies through a Master’s and Ph.D. program. Becuase of this, he was able to be hired as a Microbiology professor at UMaine. Sadly, Liuba passed away from an illness shortly after moving to Orono. Gus created a scholarship fund in her name for undergraduate microbiology students to honor her passion as a scientist and the story of how they met.

Later, Gus met Hazel Burgess who before meeting Gus, worked and lived in New York City  where she enjoyed and appreciated the performing arts. Hazel and Gus married and she moved to Orono where she legally adopted and created close bonds with Gus’ children and the Orono community. After she passed away, Gus provided a scholarship for students in the theatre and musical productions at UMaine as a way to honor her memory.

We appreciate Gus for keeping the memory of his loved ones alive through supporting students at the University of Maine.