Pepperdine People Magazine
Pepperdine People Magazine Fall 2005
In Memoriam
REMEMBERING LONGTIME FACULTY
Many Pepperdine friends will remember two longtime faculty members, Louise Thomas and James E. "Gene" Priest, both of whom have passed away. A faculty member for 18 years, Dr. Thomas was a professor emerita of English, teaching in Seaver College's Humanities Division. Dr. Priest was a former Pepperdine professor of religion from 1976 to 1988.
BERNADINE KAMPE
Celebrating her 90th birthday and still living in her home were noteworthy benchmarks for Bernadine Kampe before her recent death. Ms. Kampe was a member of the George Pepperdine Society Chancellor's Circle and had donated almost $1 million to Pepperdine over the years, primarily through planned giving legacies.
LYN PLATLER
After a two-year battle with cancer, Lyn Platler passed away at her Malibu home in June. She and her husband, Dr. James Platler, were generous supporters of Pepperdine and members of the George Pepperdine Society Chancellor's Circle. For many years, Dr. James Platler taught at Seaver College as a Latin studies professor.
HARRY T. SHAFER
Judge Harry T. Shafer, the last of the three men who brought Orange University College of Law to Pepperdine University, passed away recently. Judge Shafer and his wife, Ruth, have been friends of the University family for over 35 years. Their generosity extended to establishing a loan repayment assistance fund for Pepperdine University School of Law graduates who have entered careers in public service.
JOYCE JOHNSON
A longtime friend and supporter of Pepperdine along with her late husband, Ed, Joyce Johnson passed away at age 92 earlier this year. Several years ago, the Johnsons provided a significant gift to help fund the University Church building that will be built on the pad leading up to the Drescher Graduate Campus. Within hours after Mrs. Johnson's death, the family received word that her 24-year-old granddaughter, Amy Kent, had been killed in an accident in Mexico. Amy is the daughter of Patricia and Christopher Kent, and sister of recent Seaver graduate Adam Kent.
BENJAMIN M. BENDAT
Only four months shy of his 102nd birthday, Dr. Benjamin M. Bendat passed away. A native of Poland, Dr. Bendat received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Pepperdine University in 1976. He often generously contributed to student scholarship funds at many of Pepperdine University's schools, including the School of Law and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology.
ARNOLD O. BECKMAN
Founder-chairman emeritus of Beckman Instruments, Inc., Arnold O. Beckman passed away last year, leaving a legacy that significantly benefits institutions of higher learning, including Pepperdine University. Through the generosity of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, Pepperdine dedicated the Arnold O. and Mabel Beckman Management Center in 2003 as the Malibu campus' headquarters for the George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management on the University's Drescher Graduate Campus. Dr. Beckman was a 1979 recipient of Pepperdine's Private Enterprise Award and received the University's preeminent distinction, the honorary doctor of laws degree, in 1977.
EARL LEAKE
Passing away peacefully on a July morning was Earl Leake, George Pepperdine College alumnus ('46) and University benefactor. Leake and his wife, Margaret, have been members of Pepperdine's Crystal Wave Society, the George Pepperdine Society, the Heritage Society, and Pepperdine Associates. The couple established memorial scholarships in the names of their children, Janet and Paul. In addition, the Leakes named a classroom on the Florence, Italy, campus for their daughter, Janet, and dedicated the Paul Leake Foyer on the London campus in honor of their son.
EVELYN L. CLARK
One of University's Life Regents, Evelyn L. Clark, passed away in early August. She was 100 years old and had a long history with Pepperdine through the Associated Women of Pepperdine (AWP). She was its first ways and means chairperson and, later, became AWP president for two, two-year terms. For many years, Mrs. Clark was instrumental in establishing and building many of AWP's fund-raising activities. She joined the University's original board of trustees in 1974, which later became the Board of Regents in 1976. The centenarian's most lasting and significant gift was establishing an endowment fund for Church of Christ young people who need financial assistance to attend Pepperdine.
