Honor Mathilde Krim’s Legacy

January 15, 2018, at her Kings Point, New York, home; and WHEREAS, Born on July 9, 1926, in Como, Italy, as Mathilde Galland to Eugene Galland, a Swiss-Italian, and the former Elizabeth Krause, an Austrian; and WHEREAS, Mathilde Krim received a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, in 1953, and went on to pursue research in cytogenetics and cancer-causing viruses at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel; and WHEREAS, Following her marriage to New York attorney Arthur B. Krim in 1958, Mathilde moved to New York and joined the research staff at Cornell University Medical School; and WHEREAS, In 1962, Mathilde Krim became a research scientist at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research; she then became the Director of Interferon Lab where she served from 1981 through 1985; and WHEREAS, During this time, the first cases of AIDS were reported, and Mathilde Krim set to work to increasing public awareness of AIDS, understanding its causes, modes of transmission and epidemiologic patterns; and WHEREAS, Mathilde Krim became the founding chairwoman of the AIDS Medical Foundation which was later named amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research; and WHEREAS, amfAR is one of the largest international HIV/AIDS organizations working to advance sensible AIDS-related policy and secure funding for vital research since it was founded in 1985; and WHEREAS, During her life, Mathilde Krim was a pioneer in AIDS research and dedicated her life's work to researching the AIDS epidemic and fighting the stigma experienced by individuals afflicted by HIV/AIDs; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, in large part as a result of her dedication, diligence and innovative research, we now have a more profound and compassionate understanding of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic; since 1985, amfAR has invested $480 million in awareness and prevention programs and has been awarded more than 3,300 grants to HIV/AIDS research teams worldwide; and WHEREAS, Mathilde Krim was awarded 16 honorary degrees, and in 2000, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States; and WHEREAS, Throughout her long and purposeful life, Mathilde Krim was a selfless, profound and passionate activist and researcher who was loved and admired by all she encountered; and WHEREAS, Mathilde Krim had a great passion for the garden as well, and would spend much of her free time growing flowers and vegetables in her beautiful garden outside her home in Kings Point, New York; she often used these vegetables in her own cooking with her family; and WHEREAS, She was also a voracious reader; Mathilde Krim was known to read multiple books simultaneously in many subject fields; her favorite genres were non-fiction, history and biography; and WHEREAS, Mathilde Krim avidly followed current events and politics, and would spend every night watching the news to keep updated in local, state and global events and issues; and WHEREAS, Mathilde Krim was predeceased by her husband in 1994, and is survived by her daughter, Daphna, grandchildren, Robert and Amanda, and her sister, Maria; and WHEREAS, Imbued with a humanistic spirit and deep compassion, Mathilde Krim leaves a legacy which will endure the test of time and remain an inspiration to all she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the life and legacy of Mathilde Krim, distinguished and compassionate citizen and devoted member of her community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Mathilde Krim.