MEDICAL BULLETIN

From the dean

Wolsteins leave a mark on our campus and in our hearts

We at the School of Medicine were saddened by the news of the death of a dear supporter, Bertram L. “Bart” Wolstein, May 17. In Northeast Ohio, Mr. Wolstein was known as the founder and president of Heritage Development Co., a major developer and operator of shopping centers, and the founder and chairman emeritus of Developers Diversified Realty Corp. He also was known as the former owner of the Cleveland Force indoor soccer team and at the time of his death was trying to bring a professional outdoor soccer team to the area.

Outside of his business efforts, however, Mr. Wolstein was known for his extraordinary philanthropy and his dedication to health care research. At the School of Medicine, Mr. Wolstein’s generosity took the form of a $25 million gift that he and his wife, Iris, announced in January 2003 to name the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Research Building. The building was dedicated in October. At that time, I remarked that the Wolsteins’ extraordinary generosity and authentic humanity has been an inspiration to me. It remains an inspiration today.

In the pages of this issue, you will read about some of the leading-edge, collaborative research that is and will be taking place in the Wolstein Research Building to advance the well-being of humankind. From unlocking the genetic components of disease, to the stem cell research that may lead to treatments and cures for diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, to other kinds of cancer research, it’s a very exciting time to be a medical researcher at Case Western Reserve University. And people like Mr. and Mrs. Wolstein have helped make this situation a reality.

The Wolstein Research Building is just now being occupied. We regret that Mr. Wolstein will not be able to see the building reach capacity, but we take heart in knowing that the efforts made by him and his wife will benefit medicine and health care throughout the world and will help sustain his hometown as a research powerhouse. What a legacy!