Sacramento philanthropist Ernest Tschannen dies at 101
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Ernest E. Tschannen, a longtime Sacramento philanthropist and real estate investor who donated millions of dollars to local universities, has died at the age of 101, Sacramento State officials announced Monday.
Tschannen was a major donor to Sac State and helped transform the campus. He has recently donating $15 million to the university’s new engineering building, which will bear his name. He also contributed millions to help construct the Tschannen Science Complex on Sac State’s campus. The science building, which is also named after him, opened in 2019.
Additionally, he contributed $38.5 million to the UC Davis Health Eye Center for the Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute Building.
“The Tschannen Science Complex reflects his belief that science should be visible and shared,” Sac State President Luke Wood said in a statement. “His $15 million commitment to our new engineering building will do the same for the next generation of Hornets. Ernest Tschannen’s trust in our university will have a lasting impact.”
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