Steven M. Gootter was a successful entrepreneur and inventor known for his big heart. So family and friends find it fitting to honor his legacy by battling sudden cardiac death, which claimed Gootter at 42, through scientific research at the UA's Sarver Heart Center.
"Unfortunately, until Steve died we didn't know how prevalent sudden cardiac death was," said Claudine Messing, Gootter's sister and a member of the board of directors for the Steven M. Gootter Foundation.
"It kills almost 1,000 people a day — more than lung cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined — and there are no age or ethnic boundaries. We are committed to trying to stop it."
The foundation was founded in 2005 shortly after Gootter succumbed to sudden cardiac death — or SCD — during a jog. Since then, it has raised nearly $1 million toward research through the annual Gootter Grand Slam Tennis Tournament and Pro Exhibition, which this year will be held near the end of this month. Gootter was a high school state tennis champion.
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The foundation has several research objectives, but the long-term goal is to create the Steven M. Gootter Endowed Chair to allow Sarver Heart Center to recruit and retain top-notch faculty members to research SCD, Messing said.
To make an immediate impact, the foundation also established the Steven M. Gootter Investigator Awards to foster a greater understanding of the causes of SCD and investigate possible methods of prevention.
Messing's husband, Andrew, vice president of the foundation, said Investigator-funded research at Sarver is world-class. Recipients have included Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Vincent Sorrell,, who is studying cardiac magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of SCD; Mohamad Azhar, who is focusing on connections between SCD and Loeys-Dietz syndrome; and Carol Gregorio, director of Sarver's molecular cardiovascular research program.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects blood vessels.
A foundation-funded study by Anke Zieseniss has resulted in funding from the American Heart Association.
"We look at these awards as incubating companies, helping them and sorting out the work that has great potential until they can raise greater funds. … We want to support the younger generation of scientists who do cutting-edge studies and realize there is merit in getting the really seasoned scientists at Sarver to apply also," Andrew said.
The fact that all proceeds go to research here in Tucson is additionally compelling to Tennis Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, who has known the Gootter family for many years.
"It makes it even more fulfilling to know every dollar stays in Tucson and goes to Sarver, and the board has no paid employees. Everything is done on a volunteer basis, and the money raised at the end of the day goes to a great cause.
"Like any research, we hope that someday they will identify the cause of sudden cardiac death and come up with the right solution."
That vision motivates Claudine Messing and more than 100 other volunteers who pool their efforts during the annual weekend benefit.
"Ultimately, we wanted to make sure another family doesn't have to suffer the same horror and tragedy we have experienced," she said. "This was the way to channel our grief and turn this tragedy into something positive."
How You Can Help
The fourth annual Gootter Grand Slam, Super Gootter Junior Tennis Tournament and Gala Dinner.
The Super Gootter Junior Tennis Tournament begins at 11 a.m. March 28 at Randolph Tennis Center, 50 S. Alvernon Way. Spectators are welcome; visit www.gootter.org for more information.
The gala dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. March 28 at Skyline Country Club, 5200 E. St. Andrews Drive. Tickets are $150 per person; sponsorships are available for the weekend benefit.
The tennis tournament and pro exhibition begins at 10 a.m. March 29 at Randolph Tennis Center. Cost is $25 per person for spectators and includes tournament action and the exhibition, featuring former No. 1-ranked player in the world Mats Wilander and former top 10-ranked player Jimmy Arias, along with local celebrities.
Festivities also include food, live music and a health-and-wellness fair. For tickets or more information, go online to www.gootter.org or call 615-6430.
• Profile: The Steven M. Gootter Foundation (fourth annual Gootter Grand Slam)
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