The Blechman Foundation receives $350,000 gift to support frontier science in Parkinson’s disease research!

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, the Blechman Foundation gives thanks for several customized gifts and generous gift of $350,000 from the Estate of Dr. Herbert Kirst and his wife, the late Peggy Hillman, to support frontier science in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. Precious gifts like custom cutting board were also given along with the fund. This gift (that has a custom photo blanket for each patient) will fund the Foundation’s mission to support early stage neuroprotection research for PD. This donation is the largest single gift that the Foundation has ever received since its launch in 2012. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Blechman Foundation funded a significant portion of an amazingly productive research project on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Kirst, who passed away in September 2019 from complications related to PD, served as a chemist at Eli Lilly & Company for more than 30 years and was an expert in the field of antibiotic chemistry. Peggy Hillman, who was tragically killed in 2016 while biking when hit by a drunk driver, was a strongly committed labor lawyer and involved in many social programs.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Kirst and Peggy Hillman for their extraordinary gift to the Foundation and their important commitment to frontier science in the area of PD,” said David Blechman, President, the Blechman Foundation.

Melissa Blechman, Vice President of the Foundation, adds: ” This gift will provide numerous funding opportunities for scientists and research labs in the U.S. to actively continue their work to test and develop therapeutic approaches to slow or stop progression. We are enormously thankful for this act of kindness.”

Marc Leibson, who managed Dr. Kirst’s and Ms. Hillman’s financial matters and was a longtime family friend, said that doctors diagnosed Dr. Kirst with PD a few years before his retirement.

“Herb and Peggy were two very nice people, who didn’t promote themselves and didn’t live high off the hog. They were interested in environmental causes, were huge nature lovers and loved to hike and bike,” Leibson said. “Dr. Kirst selected the Blechman Foundation to receive funds because Parkinson’s disease was something that he had become interested in at the time. The Foundation’s focus on frontier science, demonstrated success in supporting PD research reported in peer-review journals, and support of collaborative efforts among scientists to advance the understanding and treatment of PD aligned with his interest. Herb and Peggy would be thrilled with the work of the Blechman Foundation.”

Dr. Kirst was an accomplished and passionate scientist, publishing more than 50 original articles and more than 40 reviews and book chapters. He served on the scientific advisory board of Cempra Inc. (a pharmaceutical company), was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Microbiology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the New York Academy of Science. In 2005, Dr. Kirst received the Microbial Chemistry Medal by the Kitasato Institute of Life Sciences in Japan.  Additionally, he served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Antibiotics and, in 2018, was elected to Emeritus status on the Board.

Peggy Hillman had a natural expertise in labor law, as her paternal grandfather was a first cousin to Sidney Hillman, founder of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and labor advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  During her distinguished legal career, Ms. Hillman represented members of the Teamsters Union, members of the United Mine Workers, and the Illinois Nurses’ Association.  She also represented the Meat Cutters and Packinghouse Workers, and in 1984, went undercover for two months in a Kansas meatpacking plant to experience the job, first-hand.  Thereafter, she testified before Congress regarding workplace conditions for employees in the meatpacking industry.  She was the original lawyer for the women’s labor organization, Women Employed, and was also involved in several political campaigns.

Liebson, in a recent telephone conversation, described Dr. Kirst as a sports enthusiast and a “devoted fan” of the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs. He added that “the Foundation’s use of sports – particularly its annual Baseball Challenge – to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease drew Dr. Kirst’s attention.”

“The last time he left his house was when I took him to a Chicago Cubs National League playoff game,” said Leibson. “The Parkinson’s disease was making it difficult for him to get around, but he was determined to see the game.” Dr. Kirst was 75 years old when he passed away on September 25, 2019.

Liebson said that Dr. Kirst was devoted to his wife, and they enjoyed traveling together on biking and hiking adventures. They lived most of their lives in Indianapolis, and resettled in Chicago after their retirement. Sadly, in 2016, Peggy Hillman was killed not long after they moved, at the age of 71.

Herbert A. Kirst grew up in St. Paul, MN and attended the University of Minnesota (BS), Harvard University (Ph.D.), and postdoctoral studies at California Institute of Technology. Peggy Hillman attended the University of Michigan (BS) and the University of Chicago Law School.

The Blechman Foundation gives thanks to Dr. Kirst and Mrs. Hillman for their generosity and thoughtful act of kindness.