Universities snubbed major female donor's death, daughter claims

Two major American universities refused to acknowledge the death of Erica Wertheim, a significant donor, despite her family foundation having given hundreds of millions of dollars to higher education. The Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation, which she co-created nearly 50 years ago, had made substantial contributions to the University of Florida and UC Berkeley.

UC Berkeley initially prepared a tribute but an administrator decided it was only "fair and transparent" to consult Wertheim's ex-husband first. The tribute was never published. The University of Florida also cited the need to consult her ex-husband before declining to issue a press release. In contrast, the university later hosted an 87th birthday party for her ex-husband at the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, a building Wertheim helped fund.

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We were both very hard-working, and we had nothing. We just wanted to build something together.

The author, Wertheim's daughter, suggests this disparity stems from universities angling for future donations by staying in the good graces of her ex-husband, who now controls the foundation. She contends that the principled action would have been to acknowledge the passing of a major donor.

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fair and transparent

Nicole Wertheim was described as a builder and a full participant in creating the family's wealth, with her name on the foundation, gift agreements, and legal contracts. The word "family" in the foundation's name was intended to signify her role in building something for future generations. The author calls this pattern "institutional infidelity," where a woman's philanthropic identity is minimized and reassigned to her husband, particularly during conflicts like divorce or after death.

This "betrayal" accumulates through small decisions, leading to rerouted communications, recalibrated deference, and reassigned visibility. The author argues that philanthropic gifts from couples are a result of joint effort and capital, creating a relationship with two individuals that institutions should honor. Ignoring Wertheim's death, she states, is part of a broader issue in American philanthropy.

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