When a woman was left an inheritance of $1 billion from her late husband, she used it to pay forward the tuition of students at a Bronx medical school.
The widow, Dr. Ruth Gottesman, was left the money by her late husband ‘Sandy’ Gottesman, who was an early investor in Berkshire Hathaway, and when her gift to the school was announced, the cheers—and tears—filled the auditorium of Albert Einstein Medical College.
Gottesman’s gift is the largest ever given to an American medical school, and one of the largest ever received by any American institute of higher learning.
“This donation radically revolutionizes our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it,” said Dean Yaron Tomer.
With this donation, all current fourth-year students will be reimbursed for their spring 2024 semester tuition, and effective August of this year, all students moving forward will receive free tuition.
“I am very thankful to my late husband, Sandy, for leaving these funds in my care, and l feel blessed to be given the great privilege of making this gift to such a worthy cause,” said Ruth Gottesman in a statement.
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Dr. Gottesman joined Einstein’s Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC) in 1968, and went on to become a Clinical Professor Emerita of Pediatrics.
At a time when learning problems were often unrecognized and misdiagnosed, she developed widely used screening, evaluation, and treatment modalities that have helped tens of thousands of children. In 1992, she started the Adult Literacy Program at CERC, the first of its kind, which is still in operation.
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In a note from her beloved Sandy, the investment house manager left a portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock and told her to do what she thought was best with the money.
In response, Dr. Gottesman hopes that from wherever Sandy is looking down, she hopes he approves of her choice.
Watch the moment the students heard the news…
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If we ever hope to become an enlightened society, all education at every level should be free.
And with that much money, the college could reimburse many years of tuition for their former graduates.