Mary Noel Magistro, Beloved Wife of Foundation Founder, Passes Away

December 25, 1922 – June 8, 2020

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Noel Magistro, wife of founder and first chairman of the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR), Charles M. Magistro, and longtime contributor to FPTR. Our deepest condolences to the Magistro family as they mourn her loss.

“Noel was an incredible woman, a strong and kind soul through every phase of her life,” said Rebecca Craik, PT, PhD, FAPTA. “She will be terribly missed by all who knew her.”

Charles and Noel established the Magistro Family Foundation Endowment Fund in 2005 to support an annual research grant to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions most commonly delivered by physical therapists.

Since the establishment of the fund, 14 physical therapist researchers have been awarded grants ranging from $40,000-$100,000. In 2017, the minimum grant award was increased to $100,000 per year to further enable the Foundation to fund high-impact research projects. Thanks to the generosity of the Magistro family, this grant will also be awarded in 2020.

In 2014, the Spirit of Philanthropy Award was bestowed upon the Magistro family recognizing their exceptionally generous support of the Foundation and its mission to fund physical therapy research.

The Magistro family made a $40,000 contribution in 2019 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Foundation. This gift was especially meaningful because it allowed FPTR to continue the work and vision that Charles and Noel began.

It has been a distinct privilege to all at the Foundation to have had the opportunity to know Noel. We will miss her dearly and will continue to honor the legacies of both Charles and Noel.