Case Western Reserve will host a memorial service for David Morgenthaler at 4 p.m. Monday, July 11, in the Amasa Stone Chapel.
Morgenthaler, a longtime Cleveland resident, was a visionary venture capitalist who supported university initiatives in management, medicine and international engagement. He died Friday, June 17, at Cleveland Clinic. He was 96.
A graduate of MIT and a World War II veteran, Morgenthaler founded the venture capital firm that bears his name in 1968 in Cleveland. Since its launch, the firm has funded more than 325 start-ups and raised more than $3 billion. Among its investments were Apple, Siri, Evernote, Verifone and Synopsis.
Morgenthaler was so influential in his industry that The Wall Street Journal called him “one of venture capital’s founding fathers” in the headline of the newspaper’s obituary about him. Morgenthaler was one of the founders of the National Venture Capital Association and led successful efforts to persuade Congress to amend legislation to encourage increased investment in entrepreneurial efforts.
Here in Cleveland, Morgenthaler regularly urged the region’s leaders to focus on innovation, investing in research and discovery and supporting start-ups. He saw particular promise in health, medicine and biomedical areas. He was a Life Emeritus Trustee and Distinguished Fellow at Cleveland Clinic and a member of President Barbara R. Snyder’s visiting committee. One of the places the family has suggested for gifts in Morgenthaler’s honor is the joint Health Education Campus of the university and Cleveland Clinic.
Moregnthaler called Cleveland home for several decades, only relocating to Silicon Valley in recent years to be closer to family.
He is survived by his wife, Lindsay, three children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.