June 27, 2025 A Legacy of Gratitude and Great Generosity Written By: Staff Departments: Electrical & Computer Engineering Categories: Alumni|Fundraising|Graduate|Students Early in life, John Marra (BSEE ’69, MSEE ’72) excelled in mathematics and the physical sciences, which led him to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied electrical engineering. He remembered his time at the university fondly, and prior to his retirement, he spent his entire professional career working in electrical engineering, primarily at Mortara Instruments. Mayand Dangi Marra’s experience with the UW-Madison Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) left him with a profound desire to help advance research and education. He passed away at age 75 in 2022 after a five-year battle with cancer. Before his death, he made plans to ensure that other ECE graduate students would have the support he felt while pursuing his education. “Professor Norbert Schmitz (BSEE ’42, MSEE ’48, PhDEE ’51) had a significant impact on his education and career path,” says Marra’s friend and trustee, Laura Arnow ’90. “John believed an estate gift was the best way for him to give back.” Since the Professor Norbert L. Schmitz Fellowship Fund was created, six fellowships have been awarded to incoming ECE doctoral students. PhD student Mayand Dangi is the most recent beneficiary of Marra’s generosity. “I am deeply honored to have received this prestigious fellowship, which has greatly supported my academic journey and allowed me to fully focus on my research in improving materials and devices for advanced electronics, energy-efficient systems, and next-generation technologies like quantum computing and sensing,” says Dangi. “This financial support has been invaluable. It has not only boosted my confidence but also reinforced my commitment to contributing meaningfully to my field.” A version of this article was originally published by the University of Wisconsin Foundation.