Impact
Donor of the Game
The Panther Club selects a Pitt Athletics supporter to join Director of Athletics, Heather Lyke, in the Dotting the "i" tradition to kick off each home football game.
Donor of the Game against the University of Miami on Oct. 30, 2021
Jeff and Sandra Martchek
Joining Director of Athletics Heather Lyke in “Dotting the I” are Jeff and Sandra Martchek. Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Pitt in 1987 and spent his career working for NVR Homes. He became president of homebuilding operations for NVR in 2015 and retained that role until his retirement last year. Jeff is a member of the Champions Advisory Board and he and Sandra became members of The Script Society in 2020 with their $1.25 million commitment to Victory Heights. The strength and conditioning center in Victory Heights will be named the Martchek Family Strength and Conditioning Center in their honor. Jeff and Sandra also celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary today. Please join us wishing Jeff and Sandra a happy anniversary and thanking them for their outstanding support of Pitt Athletics.
Donor of the Game against Clemson University on Saturday, October 23, 2021
Ed and Diane Farkas
Joining Director of Athletics Heather Lyke in “Dotting the I” are Ed and Diane Farkas. Ed completed his undergraduate degree from Pitt in 1970 and worked in the home industry, retiring as Vice President of NV Homes in 2008. Ed and Diane are loyal Pitt donors, giving back generously for more than 30 years. They are members of the Cathedral of Learning Society and The Script Society. Most recently, the Farkas’ made a new video board at the indoor football practice facility possible, which has been named the Farkas Family Videoboard, in their honor. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donor of the Game, Ed and Diane Farkas, for their dedication and longstanding support.
Donor of the game against University of New Hampshire on Saturday, September 25, 2021
Dr. Lisa Golden and Scott Pearson
Joining Director of Athletics Heather Lyke in “Dotting the I” are Dr. Lisa Golden and Scott Pearson. Lisa graduated from Pitt in 1993 and is now on the frontlines working as an ER physician at UPMC Altoona. Scott is also a frontline health care worker after earning his nursing degree from Pitt. Lisa is a long-time member of the Pitt alumni association executive board, serving as president for the past two years where she worked to enrich the lives of Pitt alumni worldwide. Lisa and Scott are avid Pitt fans, cheering on the Panthers at home and on the road. Last year, they joined The Script Society with a generous commitment to the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donors of the Game, Lisa Golden and Scott Pearson, for their outstanding dedication to Pitt Athletics.
Donor of the game against Western Michigan University on Saturday, September 18, 2021
Tony Eichelberger and Dr. Rita Bean
Joining Director of Athletics Heather Lyke in “Dotting the I” are Tony Eichelberger and Dr. Rita Bean. Tony and Rita’s commitment to Pitt started in the classroom – each serving generations of students in the School of Education – and for 47 years, they have been giving back to the University they love to improve the experience for future Panthers. Their legacy at Pitt carries on through all of the students they taught, but also through endowed funds for student resources and a baseball scholarship. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club donors of the game, Tony Eichelberger and Rita Bean, for their outstanding dedication to Pitt.
Donor of the game against University of Massachusetts on Saturday, September 4, 2021
Jay and Patty Irrgang
Joining Director of Athletics Heather Lyke in “Dotting the I” are Jay and Patty Irrgang. With six Pitt degrees between them, the Irrgang’s bleed blue and gold. Jay was a student athletic trainer for the 1976 National Championship team and has spent the last 35 years teaching aspiring trainers and physical therapists at the University of Pittsburgh. Patty’s Pitt pride might show through her famous watercolors of iconic Pitt scenes. For more than 40 years, Jay and Patty have been investing in the student-athlete experience, demonstrated by the establishment of the James and Patricia Irrgang endowed athletic scholarship in 2017 and their recent commitment to become members of The Script Society. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donors of the Game, Jay and Patty Irrgang, for their outstanding dedication to Pitt Athletics.
Donor of the Game against Boston College on Saturday, November 30, 2019
Rick Gradisek
Rick was a four-year manager for Pitt football and a member of the 1976 National Championship team. Graduating in 1977, he went on to Pitt dental school where he earned his DMD. Rick has been a loyal donor and season ticket holder for 35 years. For the past 26 years, Rick has organized the Beaver-Moon Golf Outing benefitting Pitt Athletics. Rick most recently made a life saving donation – donating a kidney to his sister, Judy, who joins him on the field today. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donor of the Game Rick Gradisek for his outstanding support.
Donor of the Game against University of North Carolina on Thursday, November 14, 2019
Dennis and Janet McKamish
Dennis, who serves as a member of the champions advisory board, janet and the entire McKamish family have been loyal and generous supporters of the University of Pittsburgh and Pitt Athletics for many years. In 2009 they established the McKamish Family endowed scholarship to support student-athletes and in 2011 added another endowment to support scholarships for local students. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donors of the Game, Dennis and Janet McKamish, for their outstanding support.
Donor of the Game against Miami on Saturday, October 26, 2019
Eva Blum
Eva Blum has spent countless hours moving Pitt ever forward as a dedicated volunteer and benefactor, past president of the alumni association, co-chair of the $2 billion campaign and most recently as the first woman to chair the university’s board of trustees. Eva, along with her brother Burt, established the William Pitt Union’s Tansky Family Lounge and the Tansky Family Fund in the neurology department. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donor of the Game, Eva Blum, for her longstanding support and commitment to Pitt.
Donor of the Game against Delaware on Saturday, September 28, 2019
Michael Fay
A University of Pittsburgh undergrad and dental school graduate, Michael Fay has been giving back to Pitt for more than 40 consecutive years. In 2010 he established the Michael Fay endowed scholarship to support a student-athlete on the men’s basketball team. Michael is also a member of the 1787 society with his bequest intention to support Pitt Athletics. Please join us in thanking today’s Panther Club Donor of the Game, Michael Fay, for his longstanding support.
Donor of the Game against UCF on Saturday, September 21, 2019
Tim Pecsenye
A two-time Pitt graduate and former band member, Tim has attended every panther football game since 1985. He has also been a generous donor, establishing the Timothy Pecsenye endowed athletic scholarship in 2014 and recently joining Pitt’s 1787 society with a seven-figure planned gift to support Pitt Athletics, Pitt Law, and to establsih the Louise and Dwight Pecsenye Fund for dementia and Alzheimer’s research in honor of his parents.
Donor of the Game against Ohio University on Saturday, September 7, 2019
Roger Glunt
A 1960 graduate, Roger was a member of the varsity marching band and one of the original Herald Trumpeters. A former president of the Alumni Association, he has received numerous awards from the university, including the 2003 Pitt Band Alumnus of Distinction. A longstanding supporter, in addition to his support of Panther student-athletes, he has established the Nancy Glunt Hoffman Memorial Fund to endow a chair in oncology nursing in memory of his late sister and the Robert l. Arthur Memorial Fund to support the student musicians of the Pitt band to honor his undergraduate band director. We thank emeritus trustee Roger Glunt for his commitment to Pitt.
Donor of the Game for home-opener against University of Virginia on Saturday, August 31, 2019
John and Cathy Pelusi
John, the starting center for the 1976 National Championship Pitt football team, and Cathy have been instrumental in providing resources for today’s student-athletes to succeed through the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program and the John and Kathleen Pelusi Mentorship Program. For 41 consecutive years, they have given back and demonstrated their commitment to Pitt. We thank John and Cathy Pelusi family for their longstanding and generous support.