Philanthropy is the heart of a community. It enriches and blesses as it addresses needs, often in ways governments can’t come close to duplicating.
Karen Huntsman — who died Monday, June 1, 2026, at the age of 88 — exhibited that heart in spades. People in the Salt Lake Valley and far beyond will reap the benefits of her largess for many years to come.
Together with her husband, Jon M. Huntsman Sr., who preceded her in death in 2018, she was a leading light in the cause of curing diseases, alleviating suffering and encouraging innovation in healthcare.
The Huntsmans established the family fortune through the Huntsman Corp., which included what once was the largest privately held chemical company in the nation. Jon M. Huntsman Sr. also served as an Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was well known as a political organizer who briefly ran for governor of Utah in 1988 before dropping out and endorsing incumbent Norm Bangerter.
Together, the couple presided over the Washington D.C. Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1980 to 1983. Karen Huntsman was the daughter of David B. and Ruby Haight. Elder Haight would later become an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Karen Huntsman demonstrated her own business and administrative acumen by serving as vice president and director of Huntsman Corp., as well as the director of First Security Corp., a director of Intermountain Health Care and a member of the Utah State Board of Regents.
But the Huntsmans were perhaps best known for their impressive charitable work, especially in the field of cancer research, mental health treatment, public and higher education, and helping the poor and needy.
It has been said that they changed and redefined the University of Utah’s programs for cancer and mental healthcare through a foundation they established in 1988. The Huntsman Cancer Institute is now world renowned and is the Intermountain West’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, as its website says. The Huntsmans donated $100 million in 1995 to start the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Philanthropy is a tradition that sets the United States apart in the world. Giving USA reports that charitable giving grew to $592.50 billion nationwide in 2024, the last year for which figures are available. The wealthiest Americans often set the tone in ways that enrich and ennoble.
Even measured against this worthy practice, Utah has benefited in ways far greater and longer lasting than most communities, thanks to Karen and Jon M. Huntsman Sr.’s vision and generosity.
That benefit rises beyond monetary contributions.
They were the parents of nine children. One of them, Jon Huntsman Jr., became governor of Utah, as well as, at separate times, ambassador to China and Russia. He was a presidential candidate in 2012, contributing immensely to the nation under different administrations.
His mother doubtless had much to do with this.
“We learned from our mother what strength, determination and integrity is,” a University of Utah press release quoted daughters Jennifer Huntsman Parkin and Christena Huntsman Durham saying. “She was dauntless in her pursuits and passions while still supporting her husband and our family. Her legacy runs through our family and is passed on to all her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
It runs outside her immediate family as well, and it will continue to bless countless others for years to come.