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    Photo William Gottstein

    November 19, 2019

    The Work of a Lifetime

    It was the opportunity of a lifetime. Maddy Locastro ’21 spent much of her summer in a lab at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, assisting with a study whose aim is to develop primary care strategies for children from low-income families. The aspiring physician took part in work that is close to her heart. She developed her own talents, skills and experiences. Perhaps most important, she applied what she had learned in her classes at Le Moyne in a real-world setting.

     

    “It was a joy to learn from the research team and to interact with the children and families,” Locastro said. “I gained meaningful insight into poverty-related disparities that arise in early childhood. My desire to tackle these disparities from the perspective of developmental pediatrics and public health is stronger than ever. This experience also reaffirmed my deep belief in the inclusion of all children, regardless of ability or background.”

     

    The late William Gottstein ’51 could not have scripted a better experience for Locastro himself.

     

    A member of the College’s first class, Gottstein was drawn to science. He spent 35 years as an organic chemist for Bristol Laboratories before returning to the Heights to teach. The latter was “the work of his life,” said his daughter, Barbara Gottstein ’85. After spending so many years in the private sector, Gottstein understood firsthand how critical it is for students to be able to participate in internships. With that in mind, he established a fund to help students afford these opportunities. In Locastro’s case, the Gottstein Fund for Science Research made it possible for her to complete her internship by helping to offset the cost of living as she stayed in New York City, an opportunity for which she is “profoundly grateful.” Since William Gottstein’s passing in late 2015, his family and friends, including Barbara and his widow, Marguerite "Migs" Walser Gottstein ’51, have continued to support the Gottstein Fund for Science Research.

     

    “My father believed that his work and contributions to Le Moyne were an investment in the future, not just for individuals but for society as a whole,” Barbara Gottstein said. “I continue to donate to this fund because it helps students at Le Moyne and continues his legacy of humanity and scientific accomplishment. To know that his name continues on in the history of Le Moyne would humble and thrill him beyond measure.”
    The Gottstein Fund for Science Research is part of the $100 million Always Forward campaign, which was publicly announced in June of 2018. 

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