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Alexander M. Minno (CAS '43, MED '47)

Alexander M. Minno would be considered philanthropic by most standards. The retired rheumatologist is a trustee of the Hilda Willis Foundation and helped direct foundation money to create scholarship funds in the School of Medicine, as well as support the Alumni Association, Department of Athletics, and Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife, Frances, endowed a nursing scholarship in honor of his late sister, Julia Minno, an alumna of Pitt's nursing school. They also named the Physicians' Examining Room in the new Petersen Events Center.

And in his philanthropic opinion, giving is nothing more than doing something you enjoy. "You do things because you enjoy them," he said. "I enjoy being part of the development of the University and the School of Medicine."

Alex hosts reunion dinners at his home for the School of Medicine Class of '47 because he cherishes his years as a medical student. He donates his time to the school as a clinical associate professor of medicine because he values the education he received. He asks other alumni to donate their money and time because he finds students at the School of Medicine "well-qualified, bright, eager, positive people," and he realizes that some of those students wouldn't be here without help from scholarships.

Each year, Alex asks alumni to give to the School of Medicine—in annual letters and telephone calls to classmates. In his view, he's simply asking them to remember their experiences and to give something back.

"I was given a great education at Pitt," said Alex. After graduation, he spent four years at the Mayo Clinic before serving in the Navy for four years. In both places, he found a new appreciation for his education. He went on to practice internal medicine and rheumatology for 53 years before retiring in July 2000. "I usually did not find myself behind the eight ball and that made me feel good about the School of Medicine."