Lundquists’ generosity extends beyond money, to sharing credit
Dr. Mark Lurie (right) reacts to seeing his name included on a lab coat for the Torrance Memorial Cardiovascular Institute. Looking on are Richard and Melanie Lundquist and Dr. Lurie’s wife Barbara. Photo
Following the June 15 press conference breakfast announcing a $32 million bequest from Melanie and Richard Lundquist to Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the Palos Verdes couple was presented with long, white Torrance Memorial lab coats bearing their names.
“Calling Dr. Lundquist,” a member of the audience shouted out playfully.
“If I’m your doctor, you’re in trouble,” Richard Lundquist fired back.
The new bequest brought to $100 million the total the Lundquists have donated to the medical center over the past dozen years. Their contributions are the largest ever by a private donor to a community hospital in the United States.
But that wasn’t the couple’s only generous gesture that morning. Just as the hospital staff, supporters and elected official were rising to leave the breakfast, Melanie Lundquist approached the podium, holding another white lab coat.
She told the audience there was one last announcement to be made and invited Dr. Mark Lurie and his wife Barbara to the stage. In 2005, Dr. Lurie and radiologist Richard Hoffman made a presentation for a new Cardiovascular Institute at Torrance Memorial to a group of prospective donors. That presentation led to the establishment of the Melanie and Richard Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Lurie became its director.
Melanie Lundquist held up the lab coat she was holding and asked Dr. Lurie to read the name stenciled on the front.
The Lundquists’ first names had been substituted for by Dr. Lurie’s last name.
“He does the heavy lifting, so he deserves to have his name on the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute,” she said. “The names are alphabetical,” she added.