Dear Friends,
It is with deep sadness to share news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Dr. Sol Kimel. From 1987 to 2005, having spent two sabbatical years and 18 summers at the Institute as a visiting professor, Sol greatly impacted the lives of our students, faculty and staff. In recognition of his mentorship and leadership as a photochemist and contributions in laser spectroscopy, the Institute is establishing the Sol Kimel Memorial Endowed Graduate Student Award.
I informed Etan Kimmel and Daphna Klein, Sol’s children, that we are endowing a student award that will exist in perpetuity in their father’s name. They were touched by our efforts to recognize their father in such a significant way.
With seed funding from Beckman Laser Institute, Inc. non-profit, Institute Founding Director Michael Berns and Professor of Pulmonology Matthew Brenner and through the generosity of other donors, over $100,000 has been raised thus far. As a friend of the Institute, your support would be particularly meaningful in honoring Sol’s legacy, while providing life-changing opportunities for the next generations of scientists. As a way to leverage giving, for gifts of $5,000 or more made prior to December 31, 2021, the UCI Graduate Division will match dollar for dollar the endowment payout for 10 years.
As you review your philanthropic options, please join us in honoring Dr. Sol Kimel by making a gift in support of the Sol Kimel Memorial Endowed Graduate Student Award. In addition, we welcome any introductions to those who may have an interest in supporting this endeavor. In the meantime, please contact Gabby Comfort, our Director of Development, at 949.824.8859 or gcomfort@uci.edu if you have any questions or if she may serve as a resource to you in any way. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
With gratitude,
Thomas E. Milner, Ph.D.
Professor, Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
Director, UCI Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic