Remembering Northwestern benefactor, volunteer and Alumni Medalist Roxelyn Pepper

Roxelyn “Roxy” Pepper ’53, Northwestern alumna, former trustee and philanthropist, passed away on December 12, 2024. She was 92.

Together with her husband, Richard Pepper ’53, Roxy supported several areas across the University, including the McCormick School of Engineering, the School of Communication and the Department of Athletics and Recreation. In 2001, Roxy and Richard jointly received the Northwestern Alumni Medal for their exemplary volunteer service and support of the University. 

“Northwestern mourns the loss of Roxy Pepper, whose unwavering philanthropy and service to the University, alongside her late husband Richard, have left an indelible legacy,” Northwestern President Michael Schill said. “Their support elevated numerous areas across the University, creating opportunities for our students and faculty to excel for years to come.”

A life shaped by Northwestern

Born Roxelyn Miller on June 14, 1932, Roxy grew up in Wilmette, Illinois. Her father, J. Roscoe Miller ’30 MD, ’31 GME, became the dean of what is now Feinberg School of Medicine when Roxy was 9 years old. In 1949, he became the 12th president of Northwestern, a position he held for 21 years.

During his presidential tenure, Northwestern substantially expanded the size of its Evanston campus, including the addition of the J. Roscoe Miller Campus, now known as the Lakefill. The project increased the University’s educational land holdings from 85 to 159 acres and made room for the construction of the University Library, the Norris University Center and many other facilities.

Roxy’s mother, Berenice Miller ’74 H, was known as the “first lady” of Northwestern for her skillful hospitality to students, faculty, alumni, trustees and visiting celebrities during her husband’s leadership.

Roxy attended Northwestern, as did her sister, Jacquelyn Miller James ’58, and brother, J. Randall Miller ’63, ’66 MD. Roxy was a member of the Kappa Gamma sorority. When she graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Speech (now the School of Communication), Roxy’s father presided over the commencement ceremony as University president.

Early in her time as a Northwestern student, Roxy met Richard Pepper through a mutual friend. Richard was pursuing his engineering degree at Northwestern’s Technological Institute (now the McCormick School of Engineering). The two married in 1952, a year before graduating, and went on to share 69 years together before Richard’s passing in 2021.

Dedicated alumni

The Peppers fostered a lifelong relationship with Northwestern as benefactors and volunteers. In 1978, the couple established the Stanley F. Pepper Chair in Civil Engineering, and in 2020, they endowed the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Family Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a rotating professorship held by the department chair. They also created the Pepper Family Foundation Civil Engineering Wing of the Technological Institute, and their philanthropy has supported undergraduate research across Northwestern Engineering.

“Roxy and her late husband, Richard, were beloved supporters of Northwestern,” said Julio M. Ottino, who served as dean of the McCormick School of Engineering from 2005 to 2023. “Their passion for Northwestern spanned campus, and I am particularly grateful for their support of the department of civil and environmental engineering. Roxy will be sorely missed — a class act in every way.”

Their giving also funded research in audiology, speech, language and learning at the School of Communication. In 2005, as a gift from Richard to Roxy, the couple endowed the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the School of Communication.

An article in the Daily Northwestern announcing the gift noted that Roxy had “taken a strong interest in her own department,” and Richard “shared her enthusiasm.” For the past two decades, the department has honored one of its faculty by inviting them to present on their research at an annual talk called the Pepper Lecture.

In 1987, Roxy and Richard founded the Pepper Family Foundation, and Roxy served as vice president. Through the foundation, Roxy made another generous gift to the School of Communication in July 2024 to establish the Pepper Family Community Impact Fund. The fund benefits the faculty, clinicians and students in the Center for Audiology, Speech, Language and Learning, helping Northwestern innovate and lead the way in the fields of speech pathology and audiology.

“Roxy’s support of our clinical work in audiology, speech-language pathology and learning has been transformational to our students and the communities that benefit from these services,” said E. Patrick Johnson, dean of the School of Communication. “I am profoundly grateful for her belief in these important fields as well as her steadfast friendship. Her visits to me on campus — made as recently as last spring — were always a delight.”

Avid baseball fans, Roxy and Richard served as the lead benefactors for the renovation of Northwestern’s baseball stadium. Rocky and Berenice Miller Park, named in honor of Roxy’s parents, re-opened in 2016. Roxy and Richard were also dedicated members of the N Club, which supports Northwestern student-athletes. 

Gifts of service

Richard Pepper began working for Pepper Construction Group — known at that time as Pepper Construction Company — in 1953 as an estimator and became president in 1957. According to an obituary in the Chicago Tribune, Roxy played a key role in guiding Richard’s business decisions. Richard once remarked that if he ever had difficulty landing a client, “all he had to do was get Roxy in the room and the deal would be sealed.”

The obituary went on to say that partnership was the hallmark of Roxy and Richard’s marriage and the foundation of their work and service to others. Together, they grew Pepper Construction into one of the nation’s largest construction firms. While supporting their growing business, they raised their six children and still found time to volunteer with organizations close to their hearts, including Northwestern.

Roxy served on the Northwestern University Board of Trustees from 1985 to 1989. She was a founding member of Northwestern’s School of Communication national advisory board and served on the John Evans Club board of directors. She was also a member of the Northwestern University Women’s Board, the Alumni Council and the McCormick Advisory Board. She and Richard co-chaired their 50th Reunion Committee.

Through the Pepper Family Foundation, the couple supported philanthropic endeavors throughout Chicago, including the Pepper Family Wildlife Center, which renovated Lincoln Park Zoo’s historic lion house. Roxy was a founding member of the Hospice of Northeastern Illinois Foundation, where she served on the board of directors. The couple’s philanthropy supported a range of other organizations, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Maryville’s Center for Children and the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation.

Roxy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard, their son Dave Pepper, their daughter-in-law Katy Pepper and their daughter Lynda (Pepper) Bollman. She is survived by four of her children, Stan, Dick, Lisa and Scot. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.