Dr. William Krivit – A True Renaissance Man One of the Ronald McDonald House’s beloved founders, pediatric oncologist Dr. William Krivit, passed away on December 8, 2005 at the age of 80. Back in the mid-1970’s, Dr. Krivit recognized an unmet need. Many of the families of children who came to the University of Minnesota to be treated lived outside the Twin Cities area. Their burdens were compounded by the fact that they were not only struggling with a critically ill child, they were staying at local hotels or in temporary housing arrangements in order to be close to their child. Those arrangements often compounded already difficult financial burdens. In addition, parents often felt isolated and afraid. They lacked the support of extended family members and friends, as well as a kitchen to cook in and many other basic comforts of home. Dr. Krivit was part of the original small group of parents, physicians, nurses and McDonald’s owners/operators who located the property and raised the money to buy, renovate and operate a small house that originally accommodated eight families each night. Dr. Krivit was a tireless champion for children coping with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. He was a brilliant scientist and researcher, a deeply caring physician and a consummate teacher as well. He has been described as a true renaissance man. Dr. Krivit embodied a rare and treasured combination of keen intellect, tremendous passion and a caring heart. The founders, families and friends who knew Dr. Krivit through his long- time association with the Ronald McDonald House remember him with fondness and admiration. He tenaciously fought for childhood cancer to be eradicated. He fought serious disease in partnership with his patients. His heart was heavy when the outcomes were not what he and the families he came to know so well were hoping and praying for. Dr. Krivit was uncompromising in his insistence that everything possible be done to help children coping with cancer and other life threatening diseases. He took necessary and often times courageous risks to test new treatments previously untried. Dr. Krivit was not easily intimidated. Challenge did not deter him. He ventured often onto uncharted waters so that more children would be able to live healthy and long lives.