University Times

Long-time Pitt fund raiser to retire

To the University community:

After a long and productive career at the University of Pittsburgh, John Hunter Dane has announced his intention to retire, effective Aug. 31, 1997.

Though his office is decorated in Michigan blue (he received a master's degree from the University of Michigan), anyone who knows John is aware of his staunch efforts on behalf of Pitt, where he received three degrees, including his doctorate.

John's service to Pitt began in 1974, when he was director of development for a University affiliate called the Western Pennsylvania Regional Medical Program. In 1975, he joined Pitt's business school, where he directed a $25 million capital campaign, developed a $500,000 annual gifts program, and created the school's Associates Program, now called the Katz Business Alliance. He later joined Pitt's central development team, where he served as executive associate for the Campaign for the Third Century and, eventually, as senior major gifts officer. Throughout his 23-year tenure at Pitt, John has built lasting and fruitful relationships with Pittsburgh's corporate community on behalf of the schools of business, engineering and law.

He was instrumental as part of the business school team that secured the $10 million gift from the Katz family, for whom the business school is named. He recalls planting the seed with Joseph Katz at a Pitt football game in the 1980s. Pitt lost the game 6-7, but won in the end–a few years later the school was named for Katz. Among his more recent projects, John helped mobilize the construction community to support Pitt's new construction management program.

The Western Pennsylvania community will continue to benefit from John's organizational talents. Over the years, he has served as a board member for the Pittsburgh Ballet and the Young Republicans and as a director of McCarl's, Inc. and EPIC Metals, Inc. One of his latest community projects is building an endowment fund for the McGuire Home in Beaver County, which cares for 92 disabled children.

I know you'll join me in wishing John well and thanking him for his efforts on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh.

Carol Carter

Vice Chancellor Institutional Advancement