YOUNGSTOWN — A deceased chemistry professor is leaving his mark, joining a growing list of some of Youngstown State University’s biggest benefactors.

Richard Zarilla, a 1960 graduate of the school, left a $148,000 estate gift to support the “Kilcawley: Centered on the Future” campaign, aiding in the renovation and modernization of Kilcawley Center, according to a news release from YSU Thursday.

Scott Schulick, chair of the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign, emphasized the importance of Zarilla’s gift in the broader context of the project.

“Dr. Zarilla’s gift is a testament to his belief in YSU’s mission and his desire to provide future generations with the tools they need to succeed,” Schulick said in the release. “We are honored to carry forward his legacy as we work to create a space that will continue to inspire and empower our students.”

The release states Zarilla, who died in 2021, earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from YSU. He went on to later achieve two doctorates.

Zarilla was a founding faculty member of Reading Area Community College, a two-year public university in Pennsylvania in 1971, where he taught chemistry until his retirement.

Zarilla made other donations to YSU during his lifetime, including gifts to the DiBacco Family Leadership Center and the Watson Team Center, a facility designed to better prepare the school’s engineering teams for competitions at various levels, bringing his total lifetime contributions to $375,870.