David and Minnie Meyerson
The following is submitted by Kerrie Anne Kerr Simpson, daughter of founders Nancy Joy Kerr and Lee Meyerson. Prior to his passing, Dr. Meyerson asked Kerrie to lead the foundation in the continuation of his and her mother's work in the area of disability.
 David Meyerson was in the dry cleaning and tailoring business. His start in the industry was in Staten Island, N.Y. He and his family later moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he opened his own shop. David and his wife Minnie Meyerson had three children, Matilda, Saul and Leo (later changed to Lee).
In 1931 or 1932, when Lee was about 12, the Meyerson family were attending a major fair in New York. Lee contracted osteomylitis, a bone infection. This disease caused Lee to become completely deaf almost overnight. In addition, he was hospitalized for approximately 50 operations on his bones and joints from the time he was 12 years old until he was about 18 or 19.
In 1929, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. However, at the time it was not widely available and it was given, if at all, in very small doses. At about 19 years of age, in an effort to finally beat his disease, Lee went to five different doctors and obtained prescriptions for penicillin. By taking five times the recommended dosage, he rid himself of the recurrent bone infections and the need for continual surgical procedures. Still, the illness took its toll. He suffered a severe spinal malformation, one leg was several inches shorter than the other and angled inward, he had other orthopedic abnormalities and was profoundly deaf.
During the time of Lee's illness, David and Minnie made major sacrifices in order to obtain treatment for Lee and to support him during this most formative, and difficult time of his life: a life made more difficult by his illness and disabilities. Minnie stayed constantly by his side. Their efforts and sacrifices made it possible for Lee to go forward and live a long, successful, and happy life.
Lee learned to read lips. He excelled in college and graduate school. He did post-doctoral work at Harvard, and was a Fulbright Scholar and Professor of Psychology at the University of Copenhagen. He continued his teaching career at the University of Kansas, the University of Houston, and in 1962, joined the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. He retired from ASU in 1991 with honors as a Distinguished Professor.
David Meyerson died in the mid-1960s, but well after he was able to see the recovery and success of his son Lee. Minnie Meyerson lived on until the mid-1970s. She spent every other winter near Lee, in Scottsdale, Arizona. On alternating years, she wintered with her daughter, Matilda, also known as Toots by her family. Minnie was well known by her family and friends for her crocheting skills and her prolific creation of colorful afghans. She loved to make homemade chow mein, with kosher chicken, of course.
In my view, Lee was strongly influenced by his parents' sacrifices and frugality during the course of his difficult childhood. He was extremely frugal himself. However, he learned the skill and discipline of investing well. Although he earned an average professor's salary, he was able to accumulate an estate that allowed the establishment of this foundation in order to provide for the good works to which he and my mother, Nancy Kerr, devoted their lives.
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