PROGRAM SPONSOR

Prof. Nimrod Moiseyev:

  A personal comment and observation on the support and  

  the special relationship we have with the Chais family

  "The Chais Family Foundation has supported the Excellence Program for  

  more than 10 years, from its most formative moments. I can still remember

  the first time that I met Stanley Chais, he posed the following questions:

  "What were the goals of the program and what were the existing problems the

  program could solve? How would we select students onto the program and

  what were the measurement criteria for their achievements? What were the

  criteria for success?"

Stanley Chais not only wanted to support the Technion and Israel, but he also wanted to ensure that his help would be directed towards the younger generation and that this would directly result in an important contribution to a better future for the country. I very much like the feel that those wishing to support us would also be directly interested in what was undertaken here and would want to take an active part in it. The idea that Stanley examines us first to ensure that he wants to become an active partner in this new adventure and to make sure (as much as possible) that the effort justifies the goals, is very encouraging.

Stanley, his wife Pamela and their son Mark come to visit the students on our program at least once a year. It is very enlightening to see how conversations develop: a friendly chat where Stanley, Pamela and Mark succeed in developing a direct, interesting and non-formal interaction with our students. With impressive success, they are able to discuss the science that is undertaken, the problems the students may encounter and to hear their opinion on many different subjects, including their personal interest in science, technology and other problems that Israelis face today".

The students of theTechnion's Chais Excellence Program, the Technion Professors involved in this program, Lee and Alfred Bruckstein, the current Head of the Program, mourn the death of Mr. Stanley Chais, whose generous support made this program possible over the many years since its establishment, about twenty years ago.

We send our sincere condolences to Pamela, their children and grandchildren. The memory of Stanley's generosity, warmth and wisdom will be with us forever. May he rest in peace!