Eugene C. Struckhoff

TOWSON, MD Eugene Charles "Struck" Struckhoff, a philanthropic pioneer who played a leading role in the creation of 140 community foundations in the United States and was known as the Johnny Appleseed of Community Foundations, passed away on December 9 in Towson, Md., at the age of 91. Following his graduation from Colby College, Harvard Law School, and service with the 8th Air Force during World War II, "Struck" was associated with the law firm of Orr & Reno, Concord, N.H., where he became a senior partner. During this time he became Executive Director of the Spaulding-Potter Charitable Trust and led in the creation of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. In 1959 "Struck" joined Dr. Irving Fradkin in organizing and developing the model for Dollars For Scholars which has distributed close to $500 million in scholarship aid to more than 600,000 students nationwide. Dollars For Scholars is now affiliated with Scholarship America, which has awarded $2.7 billion in scholarship aid benefiting 1.8 million students. Beginning in 1971, he devoted all of his efforts to charitable foundations, subsequently serving as President of The Council on Foundations (Washington D.C.) and Executive Director of the Baltimore Community Foundation (1982-1989). Prior to his retirement, "Struck" served as Executive Director/Development of York Foundation (now York County Community Foundation) from 1993-2000. During his tenure he was instrumental in growing the Community Foundation's assets from $1 million to $23 million. He was especially proud of launching York County's Dollars For Scholars programs, which have awarded more than $5 million in scholarships to York County students to pursue higher education. He was also instrumental in developing Focus On Our Future, now a program of United Way of York County, which has improved the quality of early education for thousands of York County's young children. In addition to his work in the United States, "Struck" helped organize community foundations in England, Australia, and Japan. He authored A Handbook for Community Foundations and Ways To Grow: A Study of Community Foundations Serving Populations Under 250,000. Orphaned at age 20, he was a self-made man who left a legacy of excellence, passion for education, commitment to justice, loyalty to family and friends, and a great sense of humor. His survivors include his wife, Norma; his son, Eugene C. Struckhoff III and his wife, Cheryl, Lebanon, N.H.; his daughter, Laura Cline, and her husband, Steven, Towson, Md.; three grandsons, Aaron and Peter Cline, Timonium, Md., and Ian Struckhoff, Boston, Mass.; a granddaughter, Whitney Cline, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and a great granddaughter, Kaylee Cline, Timonium, Md. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Road, Lutherville, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to York County Community Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, or Gilchrist Hospice (MD).