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Lew R. Wasserman's distinguished service to UCLA and Jules
Stein Eye Institute dates back to the 1960s and his close
association with friend, colleague and mentor Dr. Jules Stein. A decade
later, Mr. Wasserman succeeded Dr. Stein in the stewardship of the
powerful entertainment empire he founded, MCA/Universal Studios, Inc. A
decade after that, he led Research to Prevent Blindness, the world's
leading voluntary organization supporting eye research, also founded
by Dr. Stein. Mr. Wasserman was Chairman Emeritus at both organizations.
In addition to his 25-year commitment to Jules Stein Eye Institute
as Trustee, Mr. Wasserman served on many other prestigious boards
for the entertainment industry, education and the arts. Mr. Wasserman
and his wife Edie have supported UCLA in a variety of ways over
the years through such programs as the Edie and Lew Wasserman Endowed
Chair in Ophthalmology, Edie and Lew Wasserman Film Production Fellowships,
Edie and Lew Wasserman Scholars Endowment and Edith and Lew Wasserman
Fund for Undergraduate Support. In 2001, a new building for the
Jules Stein Eye Institute campus was announced, the Edie and Lew
Wasserman Eye Research Center.
To acknowledge a lifetime of accomplishment and beneficence, Mr. Wasserman was a recipient of numerous
awards, including the 1995 Presidential Medal of Freedom and the
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences. Mr. Wasserman held honorary doctorate degrees from Brandeis
University and New York University. He passed away in
June 2002. |
