Conrad Prebys, a renowned philanthropist and the namesake of multiple San Diego-based Scripps Health clinical departments, has died.
Mr. Prebys' legacy of giving to Scripps includes a $10 million donation in 2006 to support the construction of the new Conrad Prebys Emergency and Trauma Center at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. In 2011, he donated $45 million to build the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute on the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla (Calif.) campus. That gift is the largest donation Scripps has ever received.
In total, Mr. Prebys donated nearly $56 million to Scripps, according to an emailed memorandum from Scripps CEO Chris Van Gorder.
"When I first met Conrad Prebys, I was struck by his sincerity, his smile, and by the joy he so naturally shared with others. I could tell he loved life, and loved every day he could spend with family, friends and loved ones," Mr. Van Gorder wrote in the memo. "Sadly, Conrad's long, happy and extraordinary life came to an end yesterday. He was surrounded by those he loved, including Debbie Turner, his partner in life and in his mission to give back to his community."
Mr. Prebys came from humble beginnings. The first in his family and in his South Bend, Ind., neighborhood to graduate college, he moved in 1965 to San Diego with only $500. To make a living, he started building homes. That led to a successful real estate and construction career. As owner of Progress Construction and Management Company, at one time Mr. Prebys was one of the largest landowners in San Diego.
His donations have helped support programs like robotic surgery, maternal child health, cancer services and emergency and trauma.