A Lasting Legacy to Save Mind and Sight

Lorraine Maresca of Hollywood, Florida, may have lost her vision in one eye, but her generous foresight will bring us closer to cures for brain and eye disease.

Lorraine was a longtime donor to BrightFocus' Alzheimer's Disease Research program. Upon her death in July 2020, she continued that philanthropy with a very generous gift in her will, called a bequest, to the organization's Macular Degeneration Research program.

Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, Lorraine lived in Florida for more than 30 years. She loved being part of her neighborhood network there. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed her pets, the theater, and other regular gatherings with the seniors in her community.

In her later years, Lorraine was diagnosed with macular degeneration. She had no spouse or children, so her neighbor and longtime friend took her regularly to Miami for treatment. Even before Lorraine lost sight completely in one eye, she knew how devastating this condition could be: it's how her mother had gone blind.

To honor Lorraine, BrightFocus will establish a research grant in her name to support innovative science toward better treatments and a cure for macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. In this way, Lorraine's legacy lives on.