Legacy of Dr. Loren Bertocci: Memorial Scholarship

It is with profound sadness that we share that after a 14-month battle with glioblastoma, Loren Bertocci passed away late last week.

Loren was often described by those who knew him as "larger than life." His remarkable intellect shone through from his time at Exeter Academy to Stanford University and later at graduate school and through his postdoctoral fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center. A tireless worker, he was fiercely committed to realizing his dreams and approached life with immense strength and passion. As a devoted husband and father, he poured his heart into his family. In his professional journey as an educator, Loren took great pride in mentoring his students, helping them discover their true potential. He believed in setting high standards, knowing that with a little encouragement, people could surprise themselves by reaching, and often exceeding their goals. Outside of work, Loren considered himself a "good but not great" lifelong athlete. His passion for sports was evident in his varied pursuits—from running track at Stanford and refereeing water polo to competing in Masters Swimming and Master's Olympic weightlifting. Athletics were woven into the fabric of his life, showcasing his unwavering dedication to athletic competition and lifelong fitness.

If there was any silver lining to the nature of Loren's disease, it would be that it gave him time to contemplate what he wanted his legacy to be. His final wish was for a memorial scholarship to be established in his name to assist undergraduate students seeking a PhD in the sciences. We hope to honor his wishes with this GoFundMe.

This GoFundMe is being administered directly by Loren's children (Tori and Jason) and wife (Joan). We sincerely appreciate any donation, no matter the size, towards this scholarship. Each contribution, whether big or small, has the potential to support a student on their educational journey, and we know that Loren would be truly proud of that.