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Gifts in Honor

The Caltech Fund is grateful to join with donors to help commemorate our friends through gifts in honor or memorial gifts. Any gift made to Caltech can be made in honor or memory of someone important to the Caltech community or the donor. These gifts provide a meaningful way to commemorate the lives and accomplishments of our honorees while also helping further Caltech’s mission of benefitting society through science, research, and discovery. Caltech offers a variety of opportunities to help you celebrate these people.

Gifts in Honor and Memorial Gifts

Gifts may be made in memory of an individual that has passed or to honor an individual’s current deeds. Both gifts in honor and memorial gifts may be directed to an area on campus that is meaningful to you or the person you are recognizing through your gift.

To make a gift in memory or in honor of a loved one, friend, or mentor, please visit our online giving page, and include “In Memory of —” or “In Honor of —“ in the comment box.

Once you have made the gift, Caltech will alert the person you have honored or the family of the person you have memorialized about the gift so that they know they have inspired you to support Caltech. If you would like to include a special message with that notice, please use the contact information below.

Memorial Benches and Trees

Memorial trees and benches offer another opportunity for the greater Caltech community to honor the legacy of loved ones and friends in perpetuity. These contributions carry forward the name of those memorialized and are enjoyed by Caltech’s faculty, staff, and students. Contact us to learn more.

Memorial Gift Testimonials

Below are just some of the members of the Caltech family and extended community who have been commemorated by gifts made in their name. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of the families and friends who have made these special gifts to support Caltech.

Dr. Frank J. Nagy MS'78PH, PHD'80PH

"...Frank often mentored younger scientists, and inspired students to take the most demanding math and advanced science classes so they could better contribute to science."

"Truly a Caltech 'lifer', John touched the lives of so many within the Caltech family of alumni, faculty, and staff."

Dr. Robert H. Dalton BS'25, PhD'28, P'65

"Dr. Dalton very much enjoyed his time at Caltech and always spoke highly​ of the Institute."

Mr. Robert (Bob) K. Weatherwax, Jr BS'66, Page

"He predicted that the main source of failure would be the solid rocket boosters, eventually proved correct with the Challenger accident."

Mr. Richard "Dick" Heppe ENG '47 AE

"He received a Professional Engineer’s degree from Caltech in 1947 and was proud to complete his career as President of Lockheed California Company."

Learn More or Contact the Caltech Fund

Interested in making an honorary or memorial gift or want to know more? Contact the Caltech Fund at 626.395.6323 or caltechfund@caltech.edu.