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David and Janice Katz |
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David and Janice Katz prefer to live in the present rather than dwell on the past. When asked about their successful career together, they give a brief summary and breeze on to the next topic without pause: “That’s a different lifetime to us now,” Janice says. Even though they don’t dwell in the past, time hasn’t faded every memory. It was an encounter from many years ago that first linked them to the University of Chicago and that particular memory remains fresh in their minds. “It’s a long story,” David warns with a chuckle before starting the tale of their first visit to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Janice had an injury that she attributed to a bruise from one of her many athletic pursuits. Then, David recalls, “we were sitting at home one night and Janice said, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but this is excruciating. I need you to take me to the hospital.’” When the local hospital realized that the condition was extremely serious and beyond their expertise, they suggested Janice see a specialist at the U of C Medical Center. The professionalism and compassion she encountered left a lasting impression. “I was just a patient in serious need, and [the doctor] turned his life upside down to see me. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced,” says Janice.
With the health scare thankfully behind them, the couple sold their family-owned, Illinois-based telemarketing company in 1998. After the sale of their company, they decided to start down the philanthropic path. With the help of their lawyer, they diligently researched many renowned institutions and several specific departments at the U of C Medical Center. Eventually, they established their first of two fellowships in the Department of Human Genetics.
In 2001, the couple retired to southern California, where they have built an idyllic life. They spend their days playing golf, going on walks, entertaining friends, and travelling extensively. “When I was a little girl, I dreamed about how I wanted my life to be. I grew up and this is it,” Janice observes.
While they enjoy their many leisure activities, David and Janice still consider philanthropy to be an essential part of their lives. “We believe we have been so blessed to be able to do something that can help so many others. We both have the philosophy that you have to give back in life,” says David. Even though they participate in many different charitable organizations, when it came time to choose an institution to support in perpetuity, it came as no surprise that the couple again put their trust in the University of Chicago.
Their bequest will establish and endow the David and Janice Katz Fellowship Fund in Human Genetics and the David and Janice Katz Medical Research Fund. The couple sincerely hopes that the gift will have a far-reaching impact and contribute to treating or curing hundreds of diseases. “Our legacy, we hope,” Janice says, “…is to make the world a better place by improving the quality of life for people or their level of happiness.”
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