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All in the family | |
| Gene Michaels, retired professor, establishes $2 million trust |
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| By Larry B. Dendy |
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So when he began thinking about the disposition of his estate after he dies, the decision was easy: it would go to the institution he has served and loved for more than half a century. Michaels has set up a trust that eventually will yield at least $2 million for UGA. Half the money will be used to establish an endowed professorship in medical mycology; the rest will support undergraduate and graduate students in the microbiology department. “I invented a term for people like me,” says Michaels, who holds three UGA degrees and was a faculty member from 1962 until his retirement in 1998. “I’m an ‘elder orphan.’ That’s a person who has no surviving siblings or children who could be depended on for psychological and moral support. If you’re an elder orphan with such support, you want to thank someone, and the University of Georgia has been very kind to me over the years.” Michaels says years of investing in stocks, bonds and real estate have assured him of a comfortable retirement and enabled him to create the trust, which will receive most of his property and assets when he dies. “Without the university and the university community, I wouldn’t have any of this,” he says. “I feel I owe this to the university.” Steve Wrigley, vice president for external affairs, says the university is equally indebted to Michaels. “Gene’s devotion and contributions to the university are truly amazing,” Wrigley says. “We’re exceedingly fortunate to have him as a friend and supporter.” One of Michaels’s areas of scientific expertise is medical mycology—the study of fungal diseases that affect humans and other animals, such as yeast infections, athlete’s foot and other skin infections. Some emerging diseases, such as mad cow disease, provide the stress that increases the susceptibility to mycological diseases, Michaels says. The endowed professorship—named the Gene Michaels Chair in Medical Mycology—will be in UGA’s Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute. Michaels’s gift is by far the largest private donation the institute has received, says institute director Harry Dailey. “Gene was an outstanding instructor who exhibited an obvious enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring of students,” says Dailey. “Mycology is a very important area and this professorship will enable us to have a scientist of national stature who will extend this work into the realm of human diseases.” Michaels was already a generous UGA benefactor before establishing the trust. He’s a founding member of the Presidents Club and has been an active member of the UGA Partners program since it was started. He’s given money to support the Science and Engineering Fair and the Performing Arts Center. He’s also made donations for student fellowships in the microbiology department and for the Campus Arboretum maintenance fund. He also supports the football and women’s gymnastics teams. |
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