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WHEREAS, those of German descent began emigrating to Pennsylvania in 1683, and many settled in what is now known as Deutschtown, in Pittsburgh's Northside, where the influence of German culture is still visible today; and,
WHEREAS, in recognition of these immigrants and their offspring, the Alliance of Germanic Societies of Pittsburgh (German, Austrian and Swiss) will host their annual German Heritage Recognition Luncheon in Historic Teutonia M?nnerchor on Saturday, September 15, 2018; and,
WHEREAS, the luncheon will include dignitaries from various German, Austrian and Swiss organizations, German Folk Dance groups, and singing societies. In addition, two individuals will be honored for their significant impact on the Pittsburgh area; and,
WHEREAS, honoree Dr. Thomas E. Starzl (1926 - 2017) was born in LeMars, Iowa to Rome Starzl and Anna Laura Fitzgerald. He grew up as an "All American Boy", earning his Eagle Scout award at age 14 and playing football, basketball, and the trumpet in high school. Following his high school graduation, Dr. Starzl pursued a college education to study surgery at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Miami, motivated by his mother's wishes. He completed a residency at the Veterans Administration Research Hospital in Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, honoree Dr. Thomas E. Starzl performed the first ever liver transplant in the world in 1963. He pioneered significant research with organ transplantation and the development of anti-rejection medications, saving thousands of lives; and,
WHEREAS, honoree Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, in collaboration with John Fung, developed tacrolimus, the most widely used immunosuppressant drug in the world, in 1989. In 1992, Dr. Starzl and his colleagues discovered the use of donor leukocytes, by taking the white blood cells of a donor and transplanting them into a cancer patient with the hopes of leading the patient into cancer remission. This discovery revolutionized the science of transplantation and ...
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