Robert Malcom De Kruif

1919 - 2015

February 17, 1919 - December 30, 2015 Bob De Kruif passed away Wednesday, December 30th, 2015 in the early evening. He was one of the few remaining patriarchs of what was once known as the thriving savings and loan business. He was the institutional memory of the H.F. Ahmanson Company, Home Savings & Loan Association and that of The Ahmanson Foundation. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Dr. Roy De Kruif and Elizabeth Boale. At six months of age, he and his divorced mother and his older sister Betty arrived in Los Angeles. His father was a dentist to many of the Hollywood elite at the time and his mother was a school and music teacher. Bob graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1937 and continued on to the University of Southern California where he proudly graduated in 1941. While at USC, Bob ushered at a local theater where he was introduced by his sister, to a Mr. Howard Ahmanson. Mr. Ahmanson offered him a job upon graduation on the spot and so commenced a lifelong passion for both the insurance and savings and loan business that lasted until Bob's passing. A career spanning over seven decades. In 1945, Bob and Dorothy Swegles married and they had two daughters, Ginny and Debby. In 1956, with the retirement of Gould Eddy, a longtime associate of Howard Ahmanson, Bob assumed the Presidency of the H.F. Ahmanson Company with Howard being Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. On February 1st, 1961, Bob and Jeanne Goush� Peterson were married which resulted in an epic love affair. Jeanne brought to the new family, Bob and Debbie Peterson and a personality and heart unmatched. Bob and Jeanne began a fabulous joint career of entertaining, persuading and promoting the objectives of the H.F. Ahmanson Company to great heights. Oh the great and memorable times we all had! Jeanne was the premiere helpmate to Bob's career. Upon the untimely death of Howard Ahmanson at age 61 in June, 1968, Bob was elected to The Ahmanson Foundation where he worked until the day he died. In 1972, the H.F. Ahmanson Company "went public" on Wall Street compliments of the investment-banking firm Goldman Sachs. Upon completion of the underwriting for the sale of stock on the New York Stock Exchange, there was a celebration. Each banker announced where they had gone to school… Harvard School of Business, Wharton School of Finance, etc. Bob De Kruif's reply was, "The University of Howard Ahmanson!" that statement reflects the deep-seated association that existed between both men. Howard Ahmanson was a financial genius, a sales and marketing guru and a great teacher by example. Howard often said Bob was the ultimate in the art of persuasion and he of course had a secret weapon, Jeanne. In 1998 the H.F. Ahmanson Company was sold to Washington Mutual located in Seattle, which subsequently was purchased by J.P. Morgan Chase in New York. Thus, Bob's career came to a close in insurance, banking, and the massive real estate development throughout Southern California. He then devoted himself full-time to The Ahmanson Foundation, which began in 1952. They annually disburse monies to support both public and private schools, cultural institutions, healthcare and city and county government infrastructures. Howard always said, "I made my fortune in Southern California, and I intend to give it back in the form of supporting local education, culture and hospitals." One of Bob's final interests and legacies, along with Howard Ahmanson Jr. was that of encouraging and assisting Eric John Abrahamson to author the hardbound edition of "BUILDING HOME, Howard F. Ahmanson and The Politics of the American Dream", University of California Press, 2013. Bob is survived by Ginny De Kruif Merchant, Debby De Kruif Seesemann (David), Bob Peterson (Kathy) and Debbie Peterson. He is also survived by his 18 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. His beloved wife Jeanne passed away on September 25th, 2015. In addition, he leaves many nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances. He was a true pioneer in the savings and loan business, the ultimate "people person" combined with the fact that his generosity was legendary. Bob's funeral will be conducted by the Reverend Canon George F. Woodward III at St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino on Saturday, January 9th, 2016 at 11:00 am followed by an interment service at Forest Lawn - Glendale. In lieu of gifts of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Ability First in Pasadena, California.