San Diego Philanthropist Conrad Prebys Dies of Cancer

SAN DIEGO, CA — Conrad Prebys, a generous financial backer of San Diego organizations and entities, including the zoo and educational and medical facilities, has died of cancer, Scripps Health reported Monday.

Prebys, who was in his early 80s, died Sunday at Scripps Mercy Hospital with his family by his side, according to a statement released by his family.

"Born with a giving spirit, Conrad's deep generosity has helped strengthen and enrich the community in many important ways, including health care, medical research, music, theater, youth services and wildlife preservation," the statement said. "Survivors include life partner Debbie Turner. We ask for privacy during this time of loss."

Raised in a working-class neighborhood of South Bend, Indiana, Prebys developed a heart condition at the age of 8 that forced him to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. The turning point in his life was meeting an inspirational high school drama teacher who exposed him to culture and the arts.

The teacher was also influential in encouraging Prebys to further his education, which led to Prebys becoming the first of five brothers to attend and graduate from Indiana University. He was also the first in his neighborhood to go beyond high school.

Throughout his life, Prebys still attributed his appreciation for the theater, music and his success in business to this inspirational teacher.

Starting from his first job delivering newspapers at the age of 8, Conrad became a successful entrepreneur with Progress Construction Company and various real estate enterprises in San Diego.

He was inspired to share his good fortune with the San Diego community. His philanthropy has made the Prebys name nearly ubiquitous in San Diego.

His legacy of giving to Scripps included 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. That was followed in 2011 with a $45 million donation to build the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

"That gift remains the largest donation to our not-for-profit health system in its history," Scripps Health said in a statement.

The San Diego Zoo and San Diego State University also benefited from Prebys' giving spirit.

"Conrad Prebys was a great man and a great spirit," SDSU President Elliot Hirshman said in a statement. "He touched and ennobled everyone he met. His contagious optimism and selfless generosity have forever changed our campus and the entire San Diego region. His name and his legacy will live on at San Diego State University in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, the thousands of students who will receive Conrad Prebys’ scholarships, the Conrad Prebys Center for Viromics Research and the Conrad Prebys Chair for Bio-medical Research. The entire San Diego State University community mourns the loss of a treasured friend and supporter."

The philanthropist's name also adorns the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla and Orlando, Florida. He was also a benefactor to the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Old Globe Theatre, UCSD Music Centre, the La Jolla Music Society, the Salk Institute, Indiana University, San Diego Museum of Art and Masterpiece Theater.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Conrad Prebys, a dear friend and a steadfast supporter of UC San Diego for many years," UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said in a statement. "Conrad touched so many lives through his generosity and kindness, and has left a lasting impact on our campus, our community and our world. We will miss him immensely and cherish his legacy. From his support that created the Conrad Prebys Music Center at UC San Diego to his philanthropic gifts that benefited health sciences and many other fields and organizations, he improved the quality of life of our campus and community members and forever changed the landscape of San Diego."

According to Scripps Health, Prebys' family declined to reveal his age publicly. Memorial services were not immediately announced.

"The entire Scripps Health family is deeply saddened by the loss of Conrad Prebys," a statement from the healthcare provider said. "It's impossible to overstate the important role that he played in supporting our organization and the entire San Diego region.

"Conrad Prebys was more than a generous Scripps supporter – he was our patient and our friend. We were all touched by his kindness, his enthusiasm for life and his deep humanity. Our warmest thoughts and prayers go out to Debbie Turner, his partner in life and in his mission to give back to the community he loved."

— City News Service contributed to this report.

(Photo courtesy of Scripps Health)