UC San Diego Says Goodbye to Rady School Founder

Pauline Foster, a long-time supporter of the University of San Diego Rady School of Business, died on Saturday, July 30. She was 82 years old and for more than three decades she had given her time, vision, and resources to the Rady School.

Foster began her support of the University in 1994 when she was asked to serve on the advisory committee for The Katzin Chair of Jewish Civilization. After that point, she continued to give back to the University through monetary donations and her time.

In 2014, Foster gave a $7.5 million gift to establish the Pauline and Stanley Foster Pavilion for Cancer Care at Jacobs Medical Center. She also donated $5 million to create the Stanley and Pauline Foster Endowed Chair for the Rady School, while also giving $2.5 million in fellowship support for the Foster MBA Fellowship Fund. Beyond donating her money, Foster also gave of her time.

She served as president of the Foster Investment Corporation and served countless hours as a member of various university boards and committees. In particular, she served as trustee and board chair of the UC San Diego Foundation from 2002 until 2010. During that time, she received the Chancellor’s Medal, one of the highest honors granted by UC San Diego. Then, in June 2016, Foster was awarded the Rady School’s Founders’ Medal.

“Pauline Foster will be tremendously missed. Her extraordinary leadership, service, and philanthropy in our community and on our campus created a better future for so many people,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla in a University Press Release. “From her support of student scholarships to the recent naming of the Pauline and Stanley Foster Pavilion for Cancer Care, the Foster family legacy will live on at UC San Diego and benefit our fellow citizens for generations to come.”

Well-known as a community philanthropist, who was named Woman of the Year by the State of California Legislature in 1989, Foster will be greatly missed.

regions: San Diego

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