[T]he University of Vermont announced on Friday that Dr. Robert Larner, and his wife, Helen, have agreed to donate $66 million in a bequest to the medical school. Larner is a 1939 graduate of UVM.
It is the largest single gift ever donated to a public university in New England, according to a press release from UVM.
Tom Sullivan, president of UVM, and university trustees said the medical school has been renamed in Dr. Larner’s honor. The school will now be known as The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont.
The bequest from the Larners will accelerate the medical school’s academic program, officials said on Friday.
In a statement, Sullivan described the Larners’ gift as “a defining moment in the history of this great university as we celebrate the goal we’ve shared with Dr. Larner for years – to be recognized as second to none in medical education.”
“We remain in awe of how he embraces philanthropy,” Sullivan said. “His love for humanity, and his desire to provide long-term endowment funding, will greatly enhance medical education at UVM – and by extension will elevate medical care for patients in Vermont and worldwide who are treated by those trained here – for many generations to come.”
Larner grew up in Burlington’s Old North End. His father was a local roofer in the Great Depression. Robert Larner was the only one of seven siblings to go on to college. He won a state debate championship that came with a scholarship to UVM. Larner served in World War II and then settled in Los Angeles where he built a successful medical practice and invested in commercial real estate.
“I give to the University of Vermont College of Medicine because the education I received here made everything great that followed in my life possible,” said Dr. Robert Larner. “I’m humbled that The University of Vermont has decided to name the medical college in my honor, but I’m equally grateful for the opportunity to impact the future of medical education and to inspire others to contribute to this exceptional institution which is truly second to none.”
With this bequest, Larner will have given $100 million to UVM over the course of his lifetime.
