Passing of David Saxon, Prof. Emeritus & Former UC President Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Shirley Saxon and her daughters at 1008 Hilts Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

• From Joseph Rudnick, Physics & Astronomy Dept. Chair:

"It is my very sad duty to inform you that our beloved colleague, David Saxon, Professor Emeritus of the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy and past president of the University of California, passed from this world early this morning. In accord with the wishes of David and his family, there will be no memorial service. However, this department will honor the memory of our distinguished colleague and dear friend. The event will with great likelihood take place this coming spring, and details will be announced as planning proceeds."

• From John Sandbrook, College of Letters and Science:

  "I am writing on behalf of the Shirley Saxon and the six daughters of David and Shirley Saxon.
  
  With heavy heart, I am saddened to report that David S. Saxon, who served as UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor from 1968 to 1875; as the President of the University of California from 1975 to 1983; and as Chairman of the MIT Corporation from 1983 to 1990, passed away peacefully at the UCLA Medical Center at approximately 1am, Thursday, December 8, after a long illness. He was 85 years, 10 months old.
  
  Shirley and Barbara Saxon called me on Wednesday afternoon and invited me to join them. I remained with them until 10pm last night and then left so that their final hours with David could be private. Barbara called me this morning at 7am to inform me of David’s passing in the early morning. We agreed that, to reduce the burden on her and her sister, Peggy, I would assist them with notifications to the University community.
  
  Barbara has also asked that I prepare for her review today the basic elements of a possible University statement about her father’s passing and then provide such a document to the Office of the Chancellor and Office of the President for possible use.
  
  Pursuant to David’s wishes, Shirley and the daughters have decided that no funeral will be held. Barbara, Prof. Joe Rudnick (chair of the dept. of Physics & Astronomy, David’s home department) and I will be talking later today as which, if any, UCLA fund at the UCLA Foundation should be designated for contributions in David’s memory.
  
  Professor Tom Klitzner (Geffen School of Medicine-Department of Pediatrics and David’s nephew) and I discussed with Shirley, Barbara, and Peggy last evening the possibility of the University conducting a memorial service to celebrate David’s life, possibly in March. The wonderful 85th birthday celebration that was held for David at the UCLA Faculty Center in February, 2005, will also remain in the memories of many, as will the student residential facility at UCLA that was named in 1987 by The Regents as the David and Shirley Saxon Student Residential Suites."
  
  The sadness that many of us will feel today is balanced by the recognition of the extraordinary contribution to UCLA and the University of California from David’s leadership since the late 1940s."