Several longtime Eye & Ear Foundation donors are being inducted into the Cathedral of Learning Society in June.
The Cathedral of Learning Society pays tribute to philanthropists who have given $1 million or more over their lifetime to the University of Pittsburgh. According to the University website, “Induction into the Cathedral of Learning Society is among the highest honors the University bestows.”
The generous folks being recognized are the William Barati Family, Dan and Carole Kamin, the Mosites Family, and John Sheppard.
Margaret and William Barati passed away in 2022, but their relationship with the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh began 67 years ago when their daughter Diane started treatment for the cataracts she was born with. They funded a faculty award and included EEF in their estate plans, with Diane’s encouragement. Diane herself has been a generous donor as well.
Dan and Carole Kamin are prominent Pittsburgh philanthropists who have long been supportive of many institutions, including EEF. Carole is on the EEF Board. “Welcoming people to Pittsburgh is very important to both of us,” they told EEF last year. “The opportunity to name the atrium and lobby is a natural extension of two things that are a priority for us – supporting Pittsburgh institutions that are making amazing progress, and providing a warm entry to everyone to crosses the threshold of the new Vision Institute.”
After Marian Mosites’ treatment for head and neck cancer years ago, she and her husband Steven were impressed with the care she received. They heard about ways in which personalized medicine was the future of cutting-edge treatment for head and neck cancer. This led them to establish the Marian Mosites Initiative for Personalized Head and Neck Cancer Research. During its tenure, the initiative raised tens of thousands of dollars to advance research and treatment of head and neck cancer. Marian passed away in 2022.
A Pittsburgh native, John Sheppard did his ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh. This training helped lead to a successful career in medicine and the desire to support the institution that gave him his start by endowing the John and Clelia Sheppard Chair in Ophthalmology.
“It is an honor for each of the Cathedral of Learning Society inductees to be invited to a special dinner with the Chancellor in the Cathedral of Learning,” said Lawton Snyder, EEF CEO. “What an honor it is for me and my team to have the chance to work with these very generous donors who have dedicated so much of their philanthropy to advancing science and education. Congratulations to all this year’s inductees and thank you to all of the previous inductees.”