Eastside Catholic High Gets Gift Of $1 Million -- Former Owners Of Data Base Are Establishing Endowment

BELLEVUE

The teachers had gathered for a meeting at Eastside Catholic High when a couple stood up and said they had, oh, just a little announcement: They will give $1 million to the Bellevue private school.

John Luger and his wife, Donna, former owners of Data Base in Bellevue, will make the largest monetary donation to the school to establish an endowment, school officials announced yesterday.

"Some of our faculty had tears in their eyes," said school spokeswoman Helene Johnson.

Others were just speechless.

"It was in the spirit of Thanksgiving to a school that has meant so much in our children's lives," said John Luger, who sent four children to the college prep school.

The Bellevue couple want the gift to go toward scholarships, financial aid, faculty training, computers and maintenance projects.

The Lugers were owners of what was the nation's largest privately owned data-storage company before selling it for a reported $115 million in March.

They started the business out of a Tukwila warehouse in 1976, and the business of storing computer records for corporations grew to 350 workers and a dozen sites around the country.

John Luger, 53, who was president and chief executive of the company, wants to spend more time on philanthropic pursuits, especially education projects on the Eastside.

He is president of the Eastside Catholic foundation and a member of the Bellevue Community College Foundation.

His main goal is to raise enough money to build a campus for Eastside Catholic High. The school, with 575 students, leases a building from the Bellevue School District in the Newport Hills area. He also wants to raise enough money to help those who want a Catholic education but can't afford one.

Said Leo Marshall, the school's president: "This extraordinary gift marks a historic moment for the school's future, and we are both humbled and inspired by their generosity."

Tan Vinh's phone message number is 206-515-5656. His e-mail address is tvinh@seattletimes.com