There’s an old saying that tells us that generosity and charity come from the heart. The embodiement of that spirit rests perhaps in no better place than in Walter L. Copeland, a Pittsburgh lawyer and a former director of the old Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Copeland passed away in March of 1959 but his warm-hearted feelings for a 10-year-old girl he didn’t know has benefited countless individuals facing cranial surgery for more than forty years.

In the late 1940’s, Copeland was living with his brother, the Rev. Clyde E. M. Copeland, a pastor at the time at Jefferson United Presbyterian Church in the Pittsburgh suburb of Pleasant Hills. The pastor told his brother the story of a bright, young girl in his congregation who had developed a brain tumor. Unfortunately the child developed complications during surgery and died five months later.

Touched by the tragedy, Walter Copeland visited the child’s parents at the funeral home and expressed his sympathy. A seemingly gruff individual, he never mentioned the visit to his brother, although he did later express he felt the child did not receive the best care.

Twelve years later Walter Copeland died. It was then learned that he willed over $1.17 million for brain surgery research. No one -- even Copeland’s lawyers -- were told the reason for this bequest, the bulk of his $1.2 million estate.

“My brother was a very tender-hearted man and very reticent where his feelings were involved,” Rev. Copleand told the Pittsburgh Press at the time. “He never discussed this with me, but I can only assume this (the little girl’s death) is why he set up the trust fund.”

Walter L. Copeland recommended in his will that income from the trust fund “be applied to further research in cranial surgery and the development of techniques in that field.” He also suggested the money “be expended under the supervision of the members of the faculty of the Medical School of the University of Pittsburgh.”

Through this bequest, the Walter L. Copeland Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation in 1961. Since that time more than $2.1 million has been granted to the university for various research projects.