Donald V. Josephson, who retired from Penn State in 1975 after 33 years on the faculty, directed that the gift be divided evenly to support two previously established programs: the Donald V. Josephson and Stuart Patton Mentorship Award in Dairy and Food Science, and the Penn State Food Science Club.

Friends and relatives of Josephson and Patton created the mentorship last year to support outstanding students or faculty working toward a graduate degree in dairy or food science. While he served as head of Penn State’s dairy science department, Josephson served as a mentor and friend to Patton, who went on to win international recognition for his work (at Penn State and elsewhere) on the chemistry and biology of milk.

The Josephson family, including sons Donald B. and Ronald V. Josephson, created the fund for the Food Science Club in 1999. This latest gift will establish an endowment to provide perpetual support for a variety of extracurricular activities that foster students’ understanding of the food industry.

“As a dairy and food scientist, Don Josephson played a major role in shaping the curriculum that we have today,” said Robert D. Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, “We are honored that, through his gift, he will continue to have an impact on future generations of students and faculty.”

Josephson earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Penn State in 1936 and 1943, respectively. Since his retirement, he has lived on the family farm in Stillwater, Minn. He celebrated his 90th birthday on March 16, at which time he received numerous congratulatory cards and letters from his former Penn State students and colleagues.

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