With great sadness, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) announces the passing of Gary K. Herberger, one of our most cherished friends and supporters, who died on February 28 after battling a long illness.
“With Gary’s passing, the SBP community has lost a treasured friend, and biomedical research has lost a staunch advocate. I was personally honored to be the inaugural holder of our endowed Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair in Cancer Research. Gary’s legacy continues to live on as Garth Powis, D.Phil., director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, now holds the Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair in Cancer Research. In addition, Huaxi Xu, PhD, director of the Neuroscience Initiative, was recently named as the Jeanne and Gary Leadership Chair in Neuroscience,” said Kristiina Vuori, MD, PhD, president of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP).
“Gary’s extraordinary achievements were rooted in his gentle soul and generous spirit,” said Jeanne Herberger, PhD, his wife of 50 years and his life partner in business and philanthropy. “He believed that his purpose in life was to serve humankind, so he always focused on the needs of others.”
T. Denny Sanford, SBP boardmember, said, “I will always cherish the wonderful memories of my friendship with Gary. His record of accomplishment as a distinguished architect and a benefactor to many institutions is unsurpassed. I will miss Gary, and I know the world will miss him.”
“Gary was a true legend in the real estate world because he had a rare combination of immense architectural design talent and outstanding development skill and expertise. The range of his projects was truly remarkable, but they all had one thing in common: You could see, at a glance, their uniqueness and their sheer quality. I feel so fortunate to have known him,” added SBP boardmember Malin Burnham.
As president of Herberger Enterprises, Inc., Herberger propelled Arizona’s modern growth through his innovative real estate development and vigorous philanthropic leadership.
He got his start in architectural design as a young apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright. Under Wright’s tutelage, he worked on the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and Grady Gammage Auditorium in Tempe, Arizona. After the eminent architect’s death in 1959, Herberger completed Wright’s project at Wichita State University in Kansas.
The Herbergers married in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1967. Over the last few decades, the couple split their time between homes in Rancho Santa Fe, California and Paradise Valley, Arizona.