Oct. 30, 2001

Evelyn Hunter Longdon of Greensboro, N.C., has given $1 million to the Duke Eye Center for its proposed eye research institute, Duke University President Nannerl O. Keohane announced Monday.

Longdon's gift is in memory of her husband, Stanley Longdon, who died in 1996. Stanley Longdon lost his sight due to age-related macular degeneration. He was seen at the Eye Center in the 1980s, but his disease had already progressed beyond the treatable stage.

"I wanted to do something that Stan would have wanted," Evelyn Longdon said. "I hope this gift will help other people with macular degeneration keep their eyesight."

Longdon, a native of Wallace, N.C., is a retired nurse anesthetist. She received her nursing education at Highsmith Rainey Hospital in Fayetteville, N.C., and her nurse anesthetist certification at Duke Hospital. She worked for many years at Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro.

Longdon's gift came as a surprise to the Eye Center staff, who first met her this summer when she toured the Eye Center. At the end of that visit, she announced her plans to make a $1 million gift.

"This extraordinary gift comes at a time of unprecedented opportunity in eye research," said Dr. Ralph Snyderman, chancellor for health affairs and president and CEO of the Duke University Health System. "The field of genomics has opened new pathways to understanding, preventing and curing many different diseases, including blinding eye diseases. As we move forward with the new Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, research throughout the university and medical center will be translated into new cures for these diseases."

Dr. David Epstein, chair of ophthalmology and director of the Duke Eye Center, said, "We are so very grateful for Mrs. Longdon's generosity and confidence in the quality of Duke's eye researchers. Her gift puts us one step closer to this new facility, which is critical to acquiring the people and infrastructure that will lead to future discoveries."

The Eye Center seeks $17.5 million in funds to construct a five-story building and an additional $7.5 million for a research endowment.

The proposed research institute will be built behind the current Wadsworth Building, which opened in 1973. An expansion was completed in 1990. According to Epstein, the current facility is at full capacity and additional space is required to bring new senior-level scientists who can advance the research program to world-class status. The Eye Center is already ranked among the top 10 institutions for patient care in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report.

"We are known at the national level for our research on treating specific diseases," said Epstein. "Our goal is to be second to none in research."

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