RAYMOND PERELMAN

PERELMAN--Raymond G. The Trustees, faculty, and staff of the University of Pennsylvania are deeply saddened by the death of our friend, alumnus, and Penn Medicine Board Charter Member Raymond G. Perelman, W'40, Hon'14. Ray, along with his late wife, Ruth, devoted himself to the improvement of human health through his support of Penn Medicine. The son of a Lithuanian immigrant, Ray served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II. He later expanded his father's business in paper products into an enormously successful concern with manufacturing, mining, and financial interests: RGP Holding, Inc. Through his philanthropy, Ray also reshaped the medical, cultural, and educational landscape of Philadelphia. Ray and Ruth made the largest gift in Penn's history that named the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine and increased financial aid for students and support for faculty and research. They also established Penn's Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. We cannot overstate how grateful we are that they placed such confidence in Penn's ability to transform the health of the world. Ray was active with many Jewish cultural and educational organizations, as well as the arts, human service groups, and health care networks. He was a pillar of the Penn community and of his beloved Philadelphia. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends, especially his son and our fellow trustee, Ronald, W'64, WG'66. David L. Cohen, Chair, Board of Trustees Robert M. Levy, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees Amy Gutmann, President J. Larry Jameson, Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and Dean, Perelman School of Medicine Ralph W. Muller, CEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System