Honoring and recognizing the Potamkin Family, and the "Potamkin Prize" for funding research into Pick's, Alzheimer's, and other Related Diseases.

WHEREAS, Victor Potamkin was born July 2, 1911 in Philadelphia, graduating from Germantown High School in 1929. Victor would eventually drop out of the Wharton School of Business during the Great Depression in order to support in family; and

WHEREAS, Victor Potamkin deeply loved his wife Luba, and was devastated to lose her in 1994 to Pick’s Disease after 52 years of marriage; and

WHEREAS, Victor Potamkin along with his sons Alan and Robert, founded the “Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases” in 1988 due to Luba’s diagnoses in 1978 and her declining health since; and

WHEREAS, The award annually recognizes major contributions to the understanding of the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure for Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and related diseases; and

WHEREAS, The winner receives the “Potamkin Prize” medallion, a $100,000 prize, and is given the opportunity to make a 20 minute lecture at the American Academy of Neurology meeting;

WHEREAS, Randall Bateman was the 2019 “Potamkin Prize” winner, for his work on the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s disease and for his commitment to finding new therapies to treat the disease. He received his award on May 6, at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Philadelphia.

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and recognizes the Potamkin Family, and the “ Potamkin Prize” for research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and Related Diseases.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Potamkin Family as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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