We mourn the death of Sir John Templeton at the ripe age of 95. Along with his innumerable other accomplishments and a truly extraordinary biography, well chronicled in bountiful obituaries (see here, here, and here), beginning relatively late in life John Templeton turned himself into one of America's (hence the world's) most imaginative and generous philanthropists. His and the Templeton Foundation's interests spanned many fields, most notably religion (and, most controversially, the intersection of religion and science). Of special note to us and Gadfly readers is Templeton's wide-ranging work in education, education policy and education research. Focal topics in this sphere have included moral, character and civic education; school choice for poor youngsters in developing countries; entrepreneurship and economics education; and the education of gifted and talented youngsters. (Yes, the Fordham Institute has benefited from a grant to support our ongoing study of what's happening to "advanced" pupils in the NCLB era.) We have found the Templeton team plenty gifted and talented themselves, venturesome and curious even as they scrupulously insist that every single project they support be faithful to Sir John's convictions and priorities. Now they'll have to do it without him--but neither they nor any of the innumerable institutions, projects and individuals to benefit from their stewardship of his fortune will ever forget this remarkable man.
