The Pepperdine community lost two longtime members over the winter break with the passing of Life Regent Rosemary Raitt and former Heidelberg Director Herbert Luft. Raitt died Dec. 16 at 91 years old. Luft was 69.
Raitt, a 29-year member of the Pepperdine Board of Regents, served with the Pepperdine University Associates and along with her husband John, who passed away in 2005, helped fund numerous scholarships and programs in music, theater and the arts, ranging from the Center for the Arts Guild to the Pepperdine Raitt Recital Hall, which bears her name. “She loved students, more than anything, and her generous scholarship program was a point of pride and devotion,” President Andrew K. Benton said.
When the University began construction on the Malibu campus, as chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Raitt contributed to the development of the Weisman Museum, the Cultural Arts Center and the HAWC. She was also later influential in planning for the Drescher campus.
Raitt’s philanthropy extended beyond Pepperdine, funding arts initiatives throughout Southern California, serving as director of the Crippled Children’s Society of Los Angeles and as a member of the Los Angeles Art Museum, the Craft and Folk Art Museum, the National Arts Association and the American Academy of Achievement.
Dr. Luft, Pepperdine professor emeritus, was living in Germany after retiring from the University after 26 years. Luft, a Pepperdine alumnus, joined the faculty as professor of history before moving into administrative roles. He served as executive vice president and dean of European programs before moving to Germany as director of the Heidelberg program. “We owe a great deal to this early pioneer of study abroad,” said Dean of International Programs Charles Hall. “It’s hard to imagine how Dr. Luft administered Pepperdine’s only study abroad program without email, skype, cell phones, Facebook [and] Twitter.”
