NSM Establishes da Vinci Society

Commemorative da Vinci busts given to inductees

Honors Individuals with Lifetime Giving Level of $50,000 or More

University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics established the da Vinci Society in 2018 to honor donors for their extraordinary philanthropic support of the College.

The Society recognizes individuals with a cumulative lifetime giving level of $50,000 or more, or who have included NSM in their estate plans at a minimum of $50,000. Induction into the da Vinci Society is the highest honor that NSM bestows upon a donor.

Twenty-nine donors from across the United States qualified for charter membership into the Society with gifts totaling more than $12 million.

The Society is named for Leonardo da Vinci, an interdisciplinary genius and possibly the greatest inventor of all time. Each donor inducted into the da Vinci Society has played a transformative role in the development of NSM — just as da Vinci did for modern art and science.

“The College is grateful for the outstanding support of these exceptional donors. Their generosity has transformed our college through the support of our students and faculty with gifts including endowed scholarships, chairs and professorships,” said Dean Dan E. Wells.

da Vinci Society Honorees The inaugural members were recognized at the Tuscan-themed da Vinci Society and Distinguished Alumni Recognition Dinner held in the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion at the UH Library.

Inaugural Members

Mary Connors, D.C., and Robert A. Adams (’73)
Barbara (’83) and Bill Barnes
Carol and Randall A. Barta (’76)
May P. Chu, Ph.D., and Paul C. W. Chu, Ph.D.
Gary A. Feuerbacher, Ph.D. (M.F.A. ’71, Ph.D. ’74)
Donna and Stephen Greenlee
Karl M. Kadish, Ph.D.
Marion Kochi and Jay K. Kochi, Ph.D.^†
Marcy and Robert Lawless, Ph.D. (’64)
Peter V. Lomonte (’52)
Linda Sagarnaga Magill, M.D., (’79) and Patrick Magill (’77)
The Honorable John J. Moores (’70, J.D. ’75) and Dianne Moores, M.D.
Patsy and Oliver Murray (’60)
Saeeda B. and S.S. Newaz, Ph.D. (Ph.D. ’73)
Thelma and Richard Percoco (M.S. ’64)
Rikki C. Raflo, Ed.D. (’94)
Rosemary S. Rodd (’73)
Susan and Pat Rutherford
Helene Schwartz, M.D., and Robert J. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Margaret Sheriff and Robert Sheriff, Ph.D.†
Susan Shrader, Ph.D., (M.S. ’68, Ph.D. ’70)† and Robert W. Shrader
Fred Stutzenberger, Ph.D. (M.S. ’65)
Joan Suit, Ph.D. and Herman Suit, M.D., Ph.D., (’48)
Elsa Tansey, D.P.H, and Michael Tansey (’65)
Randolph P. Thummel, Ph.D.
Carolyn and Alton “Jerry” Warren (M.S. ’65)
Leslie and Alan Wong (’91, M.S. ’94)
Xiaobing Song, Ph.D., (M.B.A. ’02, Ph.D. ’93) and Chaoliang Yao, Ph.D. (Ph.D. ’87)

^† Deceased

Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics