Michael Jaharis 1928 – 2016

Michael Jaharis, one of Haverford’s greatest benefactors and father of Steve Jaharis '82, died Feb. 17, 2016, in his home with his family by his side. He was 87 years old.

The family foundation that bears his name has provided millions of dollars of financial support for Haverford initiatives, including Tritton Hall, the renovation of music facilities, and our innovative Student Loan Debt Relief Fund.

Emmanuel Michael Jaharis was born and raised in Evanston, Ill. Michael was the son of Greek immigrants from the village of Aghia Paraskevi on the Greek island Lesvos. After attending Evanston Township Public High School, he briefly attended North Park University and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Wisconsin. Shortly after his college graduation in June 1950, he was called to duty to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was eventually deployed to Zell am See, Austria, to help run the medical and pharmaceutical supply. After his military service, Jaharis joined Miles Laboratories as a sales representative in the Ethical Drug Division (Prescription Drug), covering the area north of Chicago’s Loop up to the Wisconsin border. While working full time, he earned his juris doctor as a night student from the College of Law at DePaul University. He rose through the ranks at Miles to eventually be appointed vice president and executive legal counsel for Food and Drug Law, where he also became involved in marketing for the company.

In 1972, Jaharis became president and CEO of Key Pharmaceuticals, which at the time of acquisition was essentially an insolvent company known for its sustained action technology and some cold/cough remedies. As CEO and president, he transformed the company by leading his team to develop pharmaceutical breakthroughs with drugs such as sustained-release Theo-Dur, which became the nation’s best selling asthma remedy, and Nitro-Dur, the first transdermal sustained-release product to release nitroglycerin through the skin. Key Pharmaceuticals was sold to Schering Plough in 1986.

In 1988, Jaharis founded Kos Pharmaceuticals, where he led his team to pioneer innovative drug therapies to treat cardiovascular disease. In 1997, Kos introduced its first product Niaspan, which raised HDL levels and improved the lives of millions of people. Kos Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2006.

After selling Kos, Jaharis co-founded Vatera Healthcare Partners LLC, a New York City-based investment group focused on taking active positions in healthcare companies that develop innovative products for unmet and underserved medical needs in a broad range of therapeutic areas, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Pearl Therapeutics), cardio-metabolic diseases and cancer (Arisaph Pharmaceuticals), antibiotic resistant bacterial infections (Melinta Therapeutics), and celiac disease (ImmusanT).                                                           

Aside from working hard to improve the lives of millions through pharmaceutical products, he and his wife, Mary, worked tirelessly and gave generously through their public service and philanthropic endeavors. In 1986, they founded the Jaharis Family Foundation, Inc. 

Valuing the importance of education, Jaharis was an active board member for several prominent non-profit and educational institutions, including trustee emeritus of Tufts University, chairman of the Board of Overseers for the School of Medicine at Tufts University, member of the Columbia University Medical Center Board of Visitors, and member of the Board of Overseers of the Weill Cornell Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences. He also served as a director of The Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA) and was a member of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.

In addition to supporting Haverford, Jaharis, together with his wife, was a benefactor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Opera. They also gave generously as scholarship sponsors of DePaul University College of Law in Chicago and supported the development of the Mary and Michael Jaharis Center for Health Law at DePaul University. At Tufts University School of Medicine, they endowed the Jaharis Family Center for Biomedical and Nutrition Sciences, the Jaharis Family Chair in Family Medicine, and multiple Scholarship Funds. He was also a benefactor of Columbia University Medical College and Weill Cornell Medical College. Tufts University bestowed upon Jaharis an honorary doctor of public service degree in May 2015. In December 2015, Columbia University Medical College presented the Jaharises with a Crown Award for their service and support to the school.

As a tribute to his beloved parents, he supported the establishment of the Jaharis Home for the Elderly in their hometown of Aghia Paraskevi on the island of Lesvos in Greece. Through two generous gifts to Hellenic College – Holy Cross Theological Seminary, Jaharis and his wife endowed the Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture and the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in New Testament Studies. They also supported the establishment of an endowed professorship, the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, at Fordham University.

Proud of his Greek ancestry and Greek Orthodox faith, Jaharis' civic affiliations included vice chairman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council, founding member and director of Faith Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, and founding member and executive committee member of the Greek Orthodox Leadership 100 Endowment Foundation. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America made Michael an Archon Exarchos of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, one of the highest honors bestowed upon laity on behalf of His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He was also awarded an honorary degree from Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Most recently, Jaharis and his wife directed their philanthropic efforts to supporting humanitarian initiatives to provide food, medical care and education to children and elderly living in Greece during the ongoing financial crisis. In addition, the family gave generously to organizations working to support the thousands of refugee families fleeing to Greece from Syria and the Middle East.

No matter how busy his professional and philanthropic commitments kept him, Jaharis always made time for his family and friends. He cherished his family and extensive network of personal and professional friendships above all else. His genuine love of people was evident in the fact that he always focused each person’s positive attributes and had a unique ability to bring out the best in everyone within any context. Equally unparalleled was his excellent sense of humor. At the beginning or end of each day, Jaharis made a point of stopping by the desk of each person in his office to say hello, catch up, and share an idea or some advice. He not only knew the names of everyone in the office, but also the details of people’s families and interests and always personally expressed his gratitude for each person’s contribution on a project. If the opportunity for a quick break between meetings and calls would arise, one would often find Jaharis in his office catching a quick glimpse of a Chicago Bears, Bulls, or Cubs game (depending on the season). 

Jaharis always credited two inspirations for his success: his parents’ commitment to family, faith, education and hard work as setting the foundation upon which he built everything upon; and the love and support of his wife and family. 

He was a model of how to offer time, energy, and intelligence in pursuit of a better world. He is survived by his wife; children, Steven Jaharis '82 and Kathryn Jaharis; and five grandchildren, as well as by the millions of people whose lives he has positively impacted.

Visitation hours and a funeral service will be held at the Archdiocesan Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity at 337 East 74th Street, New York City. Visitation hours will be on Friday, February 19, 5:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.; the funeral service will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 11:00 a.m.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church or the Cancer Programs at Columbia University Medical Center.

Photo of Michael, Mary, Steven, and Elaine Jaharis at the dedication of Tritton Hall by Jonathan Yu '12.