John Bottala
Staff Writer
Lowell Brubaker, a long-time University of La Verne Board of Trustees member, died at his home in Hillcrest in La Verne on Nov. 6 due to declining health. He was 94.
Born in 1916, Mr. Brubaker earned a bachelor’s degree from McPherson College in Kansas and earned both a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Southern California.
During Mr. Brubaker’s lifetime he was an educator and administrator, and worked as a high school teacher, counselor, principal, and assistant supervisor. Mr. Brubaker used his experience to later become the superintendent of schools for Cabrillo unified school district and Half Moon Bay schools up in Northern California.
During his time in Northern California, he served as president of the Half Moon Bay Rotary Club.
Mr. Brubaker was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1947 and served three times for a total of 41 years. Mr. Brubaker served as both a board officer and an Executive Committee member. In 2008 he was given Emeritus status.
Following his retirement in 1972, Mr. Brubaker was placed in charge of the University’s Summer Service program. Mr. Brubaker also served as both Director of Financial Aid and Director of Church Relations during the eight years following his retirement.
Mr. Brubaker used his strong values to make his position as a Board of Trustees member a memorable one.
“Lowell was a keeper of the values of the Brethren, and always asked good question at the board of trustees meetings,” President Emeritus Steve Morgan said.
Mr. Brubaker would ask such good questions that the Board of Trustees would always ask themselves “what would Lowell ask?”
“Lowell was instrumental in ensuring that the core Brethren Values continued as part of La Verne’s culture and mission even after it was a predominately Brethren institution,” said Jonathan Reed, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Mr. Brubaker was an active and involved member of the Church of the Brethren, and lived life by exhibiting the best values from the church.
The core values of the church are integrity, inclusivity, community, honesty, egalitarianism, and service to others.
“Lowell would come to a lot of events and always bring his values with him and taught people what they are all about,” Reed said.
A memorial service for Mr. Brubaker was held on Nov. 13 at the La Verne Church of the Brethren.
Mr. Brubaker is survived by his three children from his first marriage – Nancy Hirst of Apple Valley, John Brubaker of Laguna Beach and Randall Brubaker of San Francisco – and his partner and friend, Betty Jackson, a 1981 University of La Verne graduate.
John Bottala can be reached at john.bottala@laverne.edu.
