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In The News
June 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CSU Dominguez Hills Remembers Katherine
B. Loker
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| Katherine Loker and CSUDH President
Mildred Garcia at Garcia's inauguration on May 2, 2008. |
(Carson, CA)— Katherine
B. Loker, a longtime friend to California State University, Dominguez
Hills who gave generously of her time and money, died at her
Oceanside home last Thursday, June 26, after having suffered a
stroke five days earlier. She was 92.
Loker, along with her husband, was a key
advisor to CSU Dominguez Hills when its permanent home was being
selected in the 1960s,
and she continued to be a staunch supporter of the university until
her death. She most recently attended graduation ceremonies on
May 23 and the inauguration of CSU Dominguez Hills President Mildred
García on May 2.
In honor of Loker’s dedication to
CSU Dominguez Hills, flags will fly at half mast on campus through
July 3. A memorial photography exhibit has
also been set up in Katherine B. and Donald P. Loker Student Union
on campus.
“Mrs. Loker’s philanthropic commitment to education
and specifically to CSU Dominguez Hills was extraordinary and we
are fortunate to have had such a long and significant friendship
with her,” CSUDH President Mildred García said.
Born Katherine Ann Bogdanovich on August 13, 1915, Katherine Loker
was the daughter of Croatian immigrants Antoinette and Martin Bogdanovich.
She and her six siblings grew up in San Pedro, where in 1917 her
father founded the French Sardine Company, which would eventually
become StarKist Foods. StarKist is now owned by Del Monte Foods.
As a teen in the 1930s, Loker ran competitively at the Los Angeles
Athletic Club, during which time she made an unsuccessful bid to
join the 1932 U.S. Olympic team as a sprinter. She continued running
in college and became a star athlete at the University of Southern
California. She graduated from USC with a degree in English in
1940.
The year she graduated USC, Loker married
Donald Prescott Loker, a well-known actor who used the stage
name Don Terry. The couple
raised two daughters, Deborah and Katherine in the Palos Verdes
community. Following his service as a lieutenant commander in the
Navy during World War II, Donald Loker joined his father-in-law’s
company. He was vice president of public and industrial relations
at StarKist when he retired in 1965.
It was after Donald Loker’s retirement
that the couple began their philanthropic endeavors in support
of higher education, the
arts and sciences. Through the Donald and Katherine Loker Foundation,
the couple gave generously to their alma maters, USC and Harvard,
where Donald Loker graduated in 1925, as well the California Science
Center, the Los Angeles Music Center, the Richard Nixon Library
and Birthplace Foundation, the California Hospital Medical Center,
and the U.S. Olympic team. Donald Loker died in 1988, and Katherine
Loker continued to carry on their philanthropic legacy.
Katherine and Donald's friendship with California
State University, Dominguez Hills began as plans for the university’s
permanent campus were being formulated. The couple was among
the many community
leaders who helped in selecting the location of the campus. Katherine
Loker also served on founding President Leo F. Cain’s College
Advisory Board from 1967 to 1976, helping to shape the college’s
vision and goals. She continued to serve as an honorary member
of the CSUDH Foundation Board until her death.
In 2002, she became the university’s top
donor to date, contributing $4 million toward the expansion of
the Katherine B.
and Donald P. Loker Student Union. The Lokers were one of the benefactors
of the original student union, donating $500,000 towards its construction
in 1987. The Lokers recognized that students on the campus would
benefit from a central location to gather and have a place for
special programs, activities and services. The Loker Student Union
garden is currently in full bloom with the patented yellow floribunda
that was named the "Katherine Loker" rose in 1978.
Loker gave more than her money; she also gave of her time. She
served as a trustee of the California Science Center in Los Angeles,
a board member of the Nixon Foundation, a founding member of the
Los Angeles Music Center, and a member of the Committee on University
Resources at Harvard.
In view of her exceptional contributions to the community and
specifically to education, Katherine Loker was presented with honorary
degrees from CSU Dominguez Hills, Harvard and USC. She has also
been honored with the Harvard Medal, and the USC Presidential Medallion.
Loker is survived by her daughters, Deborah Hicks and Katherine
Leahy; her sister, Nina; six grandchildren, one great grandchild,
and several nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Wed., July 2, from
4-8 p.m. at McNerney’s
Mortuary and Chapel, 570 W. 5th St., San Pedro. Funeral services
will be on Thurs., July 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Mary Star of the Sea
Catholic Church, 870 W. 8th S., San Pedro.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to the Katherine B. Loker Merit Scholarship at CSU Dominguez
Hills. The scholarship was established by Mrs.
Loker in 1993 to provide scholarship support to CSUDH students
from San Pedro, Wilmington and the surrounding communities. Donations
can be made online at https://www.csudh.edu/onlinegiving/.
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---------------------------------------------- About
CSU Dominguez Hills -- California
State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse,
urban university located in the South Bay, primarily
serving the
Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university prides itself
on its outstanding faculty and friendly, student-centered
environment.
Known for excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology,
business administration, and digital media arts, new degree
programs include computer science, criminal justice,
recreation and leisure
studies, social work, and communication disorders. On campus
is the Home Depot Center, a multi-purpose sports complex
that hosts
world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and
cycling.
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