Former Stanford President Wallace Sterling Dies at 78

J. E. Wallace Sterling, the widely honored educator who served as president of Stanford University for almost 20 years, died Monday night at his home in Woodside, Calif., after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 78.

A member during his lifetime of dozens of academic and public service committees, the boards of directors of four major corporations and five of California’s most prestigious clubs, Sterling was the recipient of numerous major awards, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Legion d’Honneur of France and the Order of the British Empire.

Named president of Stanford in 1949, Sterling held the post until 1968. Under his guidance, the school’s graduate program was vastly upgraded and Stanford became the first major U.S. university to establish branches overseas.

Described as “Stanford’s man with the Midas touch,” he played a central role in fund-raising drives that brought the university nearly $330 million in gifts and bequests, 10 times the amount raised in the 40 years before he became president.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Marie, a son and two daughters. Memorial services are scheduled July 9 at the Stanford Memorial Church at Stanford.