Among his philanthropic endeavors is Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, which is creating a worldwide, correlated genetic and genealogical database used in ancestry research. His donations have helped a Washington, D.C., university for the deaf and hearing-impaired and assisted in establishment of an outdoor performing arts pavilion in Herriman. He gave more than $30 million for restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' temple in Nauvoo, Ill.

After the tsunami of 2004 hit Thailand, he donated DNA testing kits to assist in identifying the dead, and Sorenson Genomics — one of his companies — analyzed their DNA, matching some victims with their relatives. The kits and analysis were valued at $1.5 million.

He donated land and money to help build the Sorenson Unity Center at California Avenue and 900 West, next door to the Sorenson Multicultural Center. The YMCA's Camp Rogers in the Uinta Mountains also benefited from his generosity.

He and James Lee Sorenson reached out to help Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.; together they donated $5 million to the country's largest university for the deaf and hearing-impaired.

In April 2007, he gave $6 million to the new Intermountain Medical Center, raising his contributions to Intermountain Healthcare to $22 million. He pledged $500,000 during a fundraiser for Primary Children's Medical Center in June 2007. In September 2007, the nonprofit Sorenson Legacy Foundation donated $6 million to the University of Utah, toward the James LeVoy Sorenson Center, which will be dedicated to encouraging innovation and discovery among students across Utah.

A crisis concerning the Legislature's refusal to fund some items in the state Medicaid program was averted in 2006 when Mr. Sorenson and Intermountain Healthcare donated $1 million each. The next year, the Legislature picked up the tab.

"He was interested in philanthropy and helping people — a lot of people," James Lee Sorenson said. "It was a variety of different things, and they were not necessarily things that were calculated. As he saw needs and was moved a certain direction, then he would help them in any way he could, sometimes with ideas as well as money, and with things that we probably aren't all aware of.

"He had a great love for people and a great altruistic desire for peace, particularly in the latter part of his life. The whole DNA project and his foundation and the money that's been spent there was really motivated by helping people to see how they're related, and, through that, gain a greater sense of belonging or kinship and get people thinking a little bit more about each other."

Miles White, chief executive officer of Abbott Laboratories, has characterized Mr. Sorenson as "an American original who spent his legendary career developing innovations that have greatly enhanced the quality of health care, and improved and saved lives."