Jessica M. Bibliowicz, chair of the Weill Cornell Medicine Board of Fellows, Mariana Herrmann and Dr. Robert A. Harrington, Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine
The estate of Raymond R. Herrmann Jr., a member of the Weill Cornell Medicine Board of Fellows for 35 years, has made an extraordinary gift to Weill Cornell Medicine. The exceptional, unrestricted bequest, likely to exceed $65 million when ultimately received, is one of the largest planned gifts ever to the institution and will have a transformational impact.
The gift from the late Mr. Herrmann and his widow, Mariana, reflects the couple’s passion for life, commitment to their community and belief in the power of medicine and science to help people, says Jessica M. Bibliowicz, chair of the Board of Fellows.
“Ray was a deeply caring person who was enthusiastic about living life to the fullest, whether it was traveling the world or serving on the Weill Cornell Medicine Board,” says Ms. Bibliowicz. “Mariana is equally compassionate and dedicated, which is why I am so grateful for her continued involvement in our institution.”
At the time of his death in 2021, just before his 101st birthday, Mr. Herrmann was chairman emeritus of Breakthru Beverage Group, one of the foremost North American wine and spirits distributors, capping a long and distinguished career as a leader in the beverage alcohol industry.
“Ray loved Weill Cornell Medicine, and he fervently believed in its efforts to provide the finest medical care, pursue the most innovative science and educate the best doctors,” says Mrs. Herrmann.
Mariana and Raymond Herrmann, Jr.
A Life of Achievement
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, where his family founded a fine wine and spirits importing company in the 1880s, Mr. Herrmann graduated from Princeton University in 1942 and served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II.
He enjoyed a 50-plus year career and was considered an industry leader, innovator and mentor. For his accomplishments, Mr. Herrmann was named a prestigious Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the French government, among several other awards. In 2010 he was honored with the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2022 the group launched the Ray Herrmann H.E.R.O. award to recognize members who exemplify its namesake’s key qualities: Humanitarian, Ethical, Respectful and One-of-a-kind.
“Ray was a wonderful and giving man,” says Board of Fellows member Andrew M. Crisses, a longtime friend of the couple and a professional colleague of Ray’s. “When someone asked him how he was doing, he would frequently respond by saying, ‘All the better for being with you.’”
At the urging of his close friend Stephen Weiss, a former Board chair and a generous supporter who went on to endow the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Mr. Herrmann joined the Board in 1985, becoming a Life Fellow in 1991. He served until 2021 and was an active member of several governance committees over the lifetime of his involvement here.
He was especially interested in education, says Mrs. Herrmann, who is equally committed to volunteering and is a passionate supporter of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Herrmanns also funded Weill Cornell Medicine’s cardiovascular and neuroscience research in the Belfer Research Building.
Mariana Herrmann with Anita Gotto and Dean Emeritus Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr.
“Ray was a very generous man, a leading philanthropist and a dedicated supporter of Weill Cornell Medicine,” says Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., dean emeritus of Weill Cornell Medicine and a member of the Board of Fellows. “An example of his passion for life and new adventures was when he and Mariana accompanied my wife, Anita, and me on a trip to Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar in the early 2000s. If you really want to get to know what your friends are like, take an overseas trip with them. The Herrmanns were wonderful traveling companions and keenly interested in the culture around them and our important work in Qatar.”
Power of Unrestricted Bequests
Unrestricted bequests, like those from the Herrmann family, have an enormous impact on every aspect of the institution’s mission. These donations allow for maximum flexibility, and they support the organization when plans and needs change, and when opportunities arise. Unrestricted gifts have been allocated to such critical areas as essential faculty recruitments, the new student residence scheduled to open in May and an enhanced focus on the institution’s research endeavors.
“We will forever honor Ray and Mariana for their generosity, volunteerism, leadership and dedication to advancing scientific and medical excellence,” says Dr. Robert A. Harrington, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine. “I have truly enjoyed getting to know Mariana and, through her cherished memories, Ray, too. Like many visionary donors, they understood the significance of planned giving and how a meaningful, unrestricted bequest could create a lasting impact for years to come.”
