In 2026, the McGrady family committed support for a new outdoor classroom. The first of its kind on campus, this classroom will be a river overlook, enabling Spartans of the future to study, reflect, and enjoy a view of the Red Cedar that reaches beyond the banks.
The Patrick and Angele (Vial) McGrady Family River Overlook at the Beal Botanical Garden
A Garden for all Seasons of Nature and Life
We are supporting the construction of the River Overlook in the Beal Botanical Garden at Michigan State University because the university is important to our family history. Love of nature, gardens and flowers are part of all our lives. We nurture indoor and outdoor plants. We believe in the power of nature to energize, to calm and heal. Similarly, no matter the temperature and the season, the river and the gardens are always teaching, even celebrating the shortest day of the year. The spirituality of the river and the garden take different forms, depending on the season. But they never disappear entirely.
Patrick, the family patriarch, a graduate of the Broad School of Business, worked in a greenhouse as his first job. His career was in finance, but he loved his yard, his walks in the park and his vacations on the beach. Angele, a graduate of the Physiology Department, grew up in an apartment in the Bronx. Her first sight of Michigan State with its farms, bright green grass and flowers in full bloom was awe-inspiring!
The winter season resonates with our older adult years. Perhaps the view of the garden and the river might seem bleak, but the ice crystals are bright and shine in the sunlight. Winter may seem like a short time of cold, but when there is no hope, it feels like years before the first signs of spring appear. Older visitors walk more slowly - they have more time to observe and appreciate. Their minds are full of memories of the spring and summers of their lives and their time at Michigan State.
The garden knows that it will be back, that underground are roots, seeds, and bulbs. But nature takes its time, because without rest, the plants do not sprout. The frozen river lies still and quiet on the surface during the winter. But can still inspire, emanating a different type of energy, perhaps teaching how to be still and restful, how to recover from stressful times.
The first sight of green, the small clump of white flowers signals what is possible. The children in our family, Louwyn and Evelyn, and other young children and teenagers visit the garden and identify with the potential, but they are shy, uncertain and feel vulnerable. They try to imagine how the plants will grow and connect the mental pictures with their own future. What will they be doing next season or next year? Can they meet expectations? When its ice starts to melt, the river is also tentative, cautious at first, testing its banks, searching for warmth and the future. The river finally crashes through the open water. Nature takes its course and cannot be denied.
The summer brings the prime of life of a garden and the river. Trees and flowers are in full bloom; growth is everywhere; in every corner there are riots of color. The river runs swiftly, pushing against the banks, carving out more of the bank for itself. The adults in our family, Michele, Kevin and Brandy strive to realize their potential and hope for more. Sometimes the pace of growth seems too fast and adults seek time to refocus. Garden visitors can find areas of calm in the garden and sections of the river where the water pools. There, the sun is warm and the breeze gentle. Seated, slow breathing rests the body, refreshes the mind and spirit. The rushing and worry abate, and the adults appreciate their journey.
Visitors are also welcome when they are sluggish, unmotivated, burdened, feeling out of touch and seeking connection. They hope to find the section of the garden in full bloom, close to the active river; they stand at the overlook, absorbing energy. Storms, both personal challenges and natural storms, can try to destroy what has been build in the garden, the overlook and in life; but there is strength to overcome, to rebuild and restore. There is always hope in nature.
The fall welcomes students back to campus. One notices a single yellow leaf, a chill in the morning. The students are full of energy and enthusiasm while the forces of nature begin to want quiet. Don't rush to winter say the adults. We see red, gold, and orange everywhere. The overlook is surrounded by color and energy. Students learn as quickly as they can, because nature has other plans. The garden looks forward to rest, but it cannot have it yet. The adults in our family say: not so fast; we need more time; we have more goals and dreams to achieve.
Looking at the river from the overlook - where it comes from is the past, last week, last year, when I was young, when I graduated. Where the river is going is the future - always unclear. The river knows it will stay within its banks, until it doesn't. It senses that it will freeze but doesn't know when or how deep it will be. The present moment is what we have, no matter the ages of the people in our family or the seasons of the year. We hold on to life tightly!
The McGrady family