With deep gratitude, the Department of Anthropology extends its heartfelt thanks to alumni John D’Amato and Kristina Inn for their extraordinary generosity. Their establishment of a $1 million endowment—the largest single donation in the Department’s history—is a profound and lasting tribute to their former professors, Alice Dewey and Jacob “Jack” Bilmes. This historic gift honors the legacy of two remarkable educators and will inspire and support generations of students and scholars to come.
Jacob “Jack” Bilmes was a prolific cultural anthropologist whose work explored the development of human societies and cultures. A dedicated scholar and author of Discourse and Behavior and The Structure of Meaning in Talk, he was known for his keen analytical mind and contributions to category analysis. Beyond academia, Dr. Bilmes embraced life fully—pursuing passions such as tennis, golf, and African drumming.
Alice Dewey was a pioneering economic anthropologist whose research focused on peasant societies and social change. Renowned for her compassion and mentorship, she welcomed graduate students into her Mānoa home rent-free, asking only that they cook one meal per week. Over her distinguished career, Dr. Dewey further supported students by serving on hundreds of graduate committees, leaving a profound and lasting legacy.
The Department of Anthropology is deeply grateful to John D’Amato and Kristina Inn for their transformative gift and enduring commitment to education. To learn more about the impact of this historic $1 million endowment—and the legacies of Professors Alice Dewey and Jacob “Jack” Bilmes—please visit socialsciences.manoa.hawaii.edu and uhfoundation.org.
