In memoriam: Foundation trustees Betsy Woolpert, Paul Irwin, and Bud Kretschmer

Betsy Woolpert
Paul Irwin
Ernest "Bud" Kretschmer

With sadness, the UC Santa Cruz Foundation announces the passing of three former Foundation trustees in April.

Betsy Woolpert

Betsy Woolpert passed away on April 1, 2009. She was a member of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2007. Woolpert and her family were longtime supporters of UCSC (Friends of Long Marine Lab, Center for Ocean Health, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the Arboretum, UCSC Affiliates, New Teacher Program, high school outreach) and founding donors to the new University Center. During her tenure on the board, Woolpert opened doors to South County leaders and was a founding member of the UCSC Opera Circle.

Read a news obituary on Woolpert in the Register Pajaronian.

Paul Irwin

Paul Irwin passed away on April 8, 2009. He was a member of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2007, and served as president from 1999 to 2001, during which time he co-chaired the Marine Discovery Center Capital Campaign. Irwin and his wife, Anne, were generous donors to UCSC. The majority of their giving was to the Institute of Marine Sciences via the Paul & Anne Irwin Unitrust. Other areas they supported include the Physical Sciences Building Campaign, a Library Subject Endowment, and the Leadership Opportunity Awards. After retiring from the board, Irwin became an active member of the Council of Presidents.

Read Irwin's obituary in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Ernest "Bud" Kretschmer

Bud Kretschmer passed away on April 26, 2009. He joined the board in 1995 and was made emeritus in 2000. He served as co-chair of UCSC's Music Endowment Campaign (with fellow trustee Hal Hyde), which raised more than $1 million to build a Music Center Endowment, and he made a lead gift to establish a music scholarship fund. The Music Center's outdoor plaza was named in honor of him and his late wife, Jean. Kretschmer also established a Library Endowment to purchase music materials at UCSC.

Read a feature obituary on Kretschmer in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.