Vale Susan Wakil: Sydney farewells one of its greatest supporters
Philanthropist Susan Wakil leaves behind a lasting legacy, thanks to her support for education, healthcare and the arts.
Isaac and Susan Wakil
One of the University of Sydney鈥檚 greatest supporters passed away yesterday, leaving behind a legacy that will have a lasting impact on our community.
Susan Wakil AO avoided the spotlight, but her vision and generosity as a philanthropist had a transformative effect on health, education and the arts in Australia. With Isaac Wakil, her husband of more than 60 years who survives her, she gave millions in support to organisations including the University of Sydney.
鈥淪usan and Isaac Wakil have shared a remarkable and loving partnership, and the thoughts of the University go out to the Wakil family in their loss,鈥� said Vice-Chancellor and Principal, .
Thanks to the Wakil鈥檚 $35 million gift in 2016 鈥� the largest donation ever received by the University 鈥� the health and medical disciplines will soon unite in one purpose-built facility, to be named the and due to be completed in 2019. The gift will facilitate greater collaboration between the faculties to deliver better healthcare to millions of people.
Mrs Wakil鈥檚 legacy will also live on in the University鈥檚 . Every year, the couple鈥檚 generosity funds 12 to assist nursing students with study, tuition and accommodation.
鈥淢y sympathies go out to Isaac Wakil and his family,鈥� said . 鈥淭heir enormous generosity means Susan鈥檚 legacy will now live on in the University鈥檚 Susan Wakil Nursing School and Health Building, and the Susan Wakil Scholarship program.鈥�
The thoughts of the University go out to the Wakil family in their loss.
The Wakils鈥� success in the clothing industry and in property investments allowed them to give much-needed support to the causes closest to their hearts. As passionate patrons of the arts, they were often seen at exhibitions and the opera. Their $20 million gift to the Art Gallery of NSW鈥檚 planned Sydney Modern wing was the biggest cash donation in the institution鈥檚 history. Their support of Opera Australia encourages first-time opera-goers to see performances with accessible $20 tickets at the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne.
They have also funded scholarships to support disadvantaged public-school students to access vocational and tertiary education.
Since arriving in Australia as migrants 鈥� Mrs Wakil from Romania and her husband from Iraq 鈥� the pair have had a profound impact on their adopted home. On Australia Day in 2017, both were named Officers of the Order of Australia for their service to the community through philanthropy.
It has been a long journey for Mrs Wakil, who left Romania as a child, fleeing the Soviet government with her aunt. Her father was imprisoned in a Siberian gulag for being a landowner, while her mother died after being taken to a Soviet concentration camp.
After this early hardship, Mrs Wakil thrived in Australia. Her husband has spoken previously of the joy the pair took in making a contribution. 鈥淎ustralia is a great country,鈥� he said when their gift to the nursing school was announced. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good feeling to give something back.鈥�
