On July 16, 1944, 25-year-old Edward “Cos” Cosgrove wasn’t sure he’d make it to 26. The Air Force lieutenant, a bombardier with the 825th Bomb Squadron, had just completed his 34th aerial combat mission, with one more to go. The target was the Tarascon railroad bridge in southern France. The reward — if he could make it — would be a year of non-combat service and an honorable discharge, with all the promise of a full life and career ahead.

He made it.

And that’s a good thing for present and future Flagler College English and business students, not to mention the hundreds of admiring friends, family and colleagues Cosgrove left behind when he died last May at the age of 88. The long-time St. Augustine resident and business leader bequeathed more than $1.1 million to the college for use as scholarships. And though the heft of the gift is striking, it comes as no great surprise to those who knew and loved “Cos,” a man of generous spirit and long-term vision.

Edward John (Kosikowski) Cosgrove was born in Connecticut in 1918. Following his distinguished military career as a bombardier, he came to St. Augustine, where he met his wife, Margery Renton, a high-energy professional who served for a time as a personal secretary to author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. He served as bank president and chairman of Barnett Bank of St. Augustine, and he also became a very active and generous supporter of Flagler College since its inception in 1968.

“Ed was well-respected as a fine banker who served as president of Barnett Bank in St. Augustine for many years,” said Allen Lastinger, former president and chief operating officer of Barnett Bank Jacksonville. “He and his wife, Margery, were world travelers, and they were very cosmopolitan.”

The Margery Renton and Edward J. Cosgrove Endowed Scholarship awards will be made to Flagler College juniors or seniors from St. Johns County, Fla., majoring in business administration or English. Shrewd businessman to the end, Cosgrove was careful to protect the gift’s potential by stipulating that no funds be drawn against it for the first five years in order to ensure the endowment’s continued growth.

Dashing, fun-loving and adventurous, with a sophisticated outlook born of extensive world travel, the Cosgroves were the toast of St. Augustine for many years. Following Margery’s death in 1989, Edward retreated from public life and spent his final years quietly supporting the college and the organizations in which he believed.

His final bequest to Flagler College — one which will help shape the futures of academically-minded students for many years to come — is a testament to the high-flying success of a brave, adventurous and heroic local leader.

As the latest addition to Flagler College’s Board of Trustees, Delores Lastinger is bringing a passion for education and a unique background in philanthropy to her new role.

Lastinger chairs development for Flagler now, but she spent her first years out of college teaching high school in Jacksonville. With the arrival of her children, she moved on to high-profile volunteer work, serving on a variety of boards throughout Northeast Florida and leading philanthropic projects with her husband, Allen.

The Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida is among their biggest contributions. The couple created an endowment to found the facility for their alma mater, and the center has been developing skilled teachers and improving student progress throughout Florida ever since.

Now the couple has relocated from Jacksonville to St. Augustine – and Delores is helping Flagler gather the donations it needs to keep improving in the future. In addition, she and her husband have personally given the college $500,000 to help preserve Flagler’s historic buildings.

“Allen and I always thought the Ponce de Leon Hotel was such a treasure and so beautiful,” Lastinger said. “And now the years have gone by, and here we are helping to raise money for it … It’s such an important facility for St. Augustine, isn’t it? You drive by and see those spires rising up.”

Lastinger said she got involved with Flagler because of her friend and former Chairman of the Board Fred M. Cone Jr., who recently passed away.

“I miss him so much,” she said. “That is a big void. Because of him, it makes me want to work even harder – to carry out the faith he had in me.”

In addition to preserving the historic campus buildings, Lastinger’s development goals include improvements to the college’s student living and teaching facilities, capital projects and scholarships.

“It’s very important, especially for Flagler College, where so many of the students receive some sort of financial aid,” Lastinger said.

College President William T. Abare Jr. called Lastinger a “wonderful addition” to the board.

“She has a passion for education and a keen interest in higher education, especially in programs dealing with the preparation of teachers,” he said. “She is a thoughtful, forward-thinking person.”

John Stewart, Flagler’s vice president of institutional advancement, said Lastinger brings “vigor and vision” to her role. “The advancement office has already been energized by her ideas and leadership,” he added.

Lastinger said she’s excited about her work for Flagler. She sees evidence of the college’s progress everywhere.

“It is extremely gratifying to see,” she said. “I go in the [new Ringhaver] Student Center and I wonder, ‘How in the world did we ever operate here without that?”