In 1986, philanthropist Harcourt Sylvester Jr. pledged $27.5 million to benefit cancer programs at the medical school, and the cancer center was renamed Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in recognition of what was, at the time, the largest single gift to the University of Miami.

Sylvester’s father, founder of Fasco Industries, died of lung cancer in 1980 and the Boca Raton-based business was sold for $100 million in cash.