Susan Gonda and Leslie Gonda |
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(L-R) Fouad Kandeel, MD, PhD; Arthur Riggs, PhD; Jack Suzar;
Susan Gonda; Leslie Gonda; Theodore Krontiris, MD, PhD; James Miser, MD |
LESLIE AND SUSAN GONDA (GOLDSCHMIED) BIOGRAPHY
Leslie Gonda was born in Mezotur, Hungary as Laszlo Goldschmied.
Susan Gonda was born in Beregszasz as Zsuzsu Neufeld. They each survived a series of
concentration and work camps and married in Switzerland after the end of World War II.
In 1947, they left Europe and emigrated to Venezuela. After working in a
bank and then taking a job as a merchandise dealer, Mr. Gonda purchased a hotel and restaurant
in a newly developed oil boomtown. Before long, Mr. Gonda became the owner of several
businesses in hospital linens, uniform manufacturing, real estate development, and building
and financing.
In 1963, the Gonda family moved to the United States where Mr. Gonda
became a cattle rancher in Oregon and California. In 1973, Mr. Gonda with his son and
family friend created the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) which went public
in 1983. The ILFC merged with the American International Group (AIG) in August of 1990 and
became the largest and best run airplane-leasing firm in the world.
Mr. Leslie Gonda has served as the Chairman of the Board and CEO at ILFC
since its inception. He also serves as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of ILFC,
member of the Board of Directors of AIG and its International Advisory Board, member of the
UCLA Urology Advisory Board, and Executive Board member for the UCLA Medical Sciences.
Leslie and Susan Gonda have one son, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
They actively support humanitarian projects and programs to advance science, medical research
and education throughout the world.
THE LESLIE AND SUSAN GONDA (GOLDSCHMIED FOUNDATION)
The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Foundation was established in 1988
and is dedicated to the memory of family members lost during the Holocaust.
Over the past ten years, the Foundation has focused their interests on advancing
medical research which meets the ongoing challenges of patient care. Mr. and Mrs. Gonda have
ensured the advancement of medicine in the treatment of diabetes and vascular disease at major
medical institutions and universities around the world. Examples of Gondas' diabetes research
support include: The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Diabetes and Genetics Research
Center (City of Hope), Mayo/Gonda (Goldschmied) Integration Center (Mayo Clinic), Gonda
Vascular Center (Mayo Clinic), Gonda (Goldschmied) Diabetes Center (UCLA), Gonda (Goldschmied)
Vascular Center (UCLA), Gonda (Goldschmied) Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine
(UCLA), The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Center for Diabetes Research and Education
(Ben Gurion University of Negrev), and the Westside Center for Diabetes (USC).
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(L-R) Yogish Kudva, MD (Mayo Clinic), Fouad Kandeel, MD, PhD (City of Hope);
Leslie Gonda; Ilana Harman-Boehm, MD (Ben Gurion University of Negrev); Michael Bryer-Ash, MD (UCLA). Picture
taken at the Hilton in Anaheim during the Spirit of Life Award Ceremony in October 2002. |
The foundation also supports many museums, monuments and programs to ensure
that the quality of education has an impact on future generations. In Israel, the Foundation
has helped to create several buildings, which provide housing and education for the
relocation of Ethiopian children and their families. They are working together with the local
Israeli government to provide programs for senior citizens, employment for new immigrants,
and student scholarships.
Mr. and Mrs. Gonda strongly believe that through education and the current
advance in medicine, future generations will be able to meet the challenges in today's
competitive world. This will also enable them to prepare for a longer, more productive,
and more meaningful life.
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Southern California Islet Consortium 
