SfN Honors Bequests From Long-Time Members
Two recent bequests to the Society from long-time members enabled SfN to create new endowments to support the future of the neuroscience community. The first bequest came from the estate of John I. Simpson, professor emeritus at the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Langone Health. Simpson was a 34-year member of SfN when he passed away in 2020 at age 80. The second bequest was from the estate of James L. Roberts, Cowles distinguished professor of Life Science at Trinity University. Roberts was a 32-year member of SfN and was 72 when he passed away in 2023. Simpson and Roberts spent decades as educators, helping countless students grow and flourish in their careers.
Both the Simpson and Roberts estates left unrestricted funds for SfN, allowing the Society to determine how best to apply the resources to support the SfN membership. Council, having previously identified the funding of Trainee Professional Development Awards (TPDAs) as one of the Society’s highest funding priorities, and in wishing to honor the members' interests in providing advancement opportunities for early-career neuroscientists, has used these bequests to create two new endowments in the donors’ names. Both the John I. Simpson Fund and the James L. Roberts Fund are structured to generate income that will fund 40-50 TPDAs every year in perpetuity.
SfN always honors the wishes of those who leave bequests to the Society. It welcomes philanthropy from its membership and beyond to advance the neuroscience field. Those interested in supporting neuroscience through estate planning, bequests, or other charitable donations are encouraged to contact SfN at development@sfn.org or visit the SfN philanthropy webpage.
