Walter Ousterman Jr.

Walter E. Ousterman Jr

March 3, 1930 - April 3, 2013

Passed away peacefully at his Piedmont home at age 83 with his wife by his side. He was the youngest of three children and only son of Walter and Anna May Ousterman of Cranford, New Jersey where he spent his boyhood and early adult life.

Walt's warm and radiant smile captivated those he met and revealed his essential nature: genuine and friendly with a buoyant vitality. He was without pretense and uncompromising in his strong set of values, integrity and sense of duty. His commitment to and love of family were the central core and anchor of his life. Walt's home provided a peaceful haven from his business life and enabled him to enjoy many diverse activities and interests. Among those his greatest passion was fly fishing, which coincided with his love and respect of nature. Walt traveled worldwide in pursuit of the opportunity to present his fly perfectly whether it might be on rivers or salt water.

Like many self-made men, Walt learned the value of hard work at an early age and was tireless in accomplishing all his goals and aspirations. He attended Rutgers University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa his junior year and graduated Summa Cum Laude, Class of 1951.

In 1957, after receiving an MBA from Harvard Business School, Ousterman headed west and became a shift foreman at Kaiser's Permanente Cement Plant in Cupertino, CA, with the intention of learning the cement manufacturing business from the ground up. His leadership qualities and managerial skills were recognized early and he quickly rose through the ranks of the company holding important corporate positions. In 1977 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer and in 1979 consolidated his leadership by being elected Chairman of the Board in addition to his posts as President and Chief Executive officer.

His decision to learn every aspect of the cement manufacturing process proved fortuitous for, as a young manager at Permanente, he was enlisted by Henry Kaiser Sr. to assist in the design of the new Kaiser plant in Waianae, Hawaii. Walter traveled to Hawaii on extended stays during this period and was deeply inspired by his personal relationship with the great industrialist.

In the Kaiser tradition, Ousterman undertook leadership with boldness and vision. During his tenure he was the architect of a major corporate restructuring and initiated and directed a modernization and expansion program replacing outmoded capacity with state-of-the-art equipment at its domestic cement plants. Upon completion of these projects Kaiser Cement was the most modern and cost-effective cement company in the United States. Subsequently, "The Wall Street Transcript" a national investment publication selected Ousterman as outstanding CEO in the cement industry.

His early first-hand operating experience was also extremely helpful in expanding the international scope of the company, primarily in the Pacific Basin, Southeast Asia and the Far East. He wryly observed that less developed countries require two basic industries: a brewery and a cement plant. Ousterman was honored in Financial World Magazine as one of America's top executives. He concluded his 30-year career with Kaiser Cement Corporation in 1987.

During the Korean War the U.S. Army sent Walt to language school in Monterey, CA to learn Russian. He was later assigned to Army Military Intelligence in Salzburg, Austria as a Russian interpreter and translator. In 1992, as a finale to his business career, he accepted a one-year volunteer assignment as country director in Russia with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC). The purpose of the IESC was to implement the US governmt's assistance programs for the former Soviet Union. Walt was responsible for setting up IESC offices throughout Russia and directing fellow volunteers to assist in technical, marketing and production know-how to Russian companies who requested their servies. He traversed the country networking with local governments and trade associations and visited over 100 operations, including industrial, banking and pharmaceutical companies. Walt felt satisfied with his tenure in Russia, as regional offices were opened throughout the country and many newly privatized companies were using IESC services.

Walt maintained an active role in the Bay Area Community, serving on the boards of directors of Holy Names College, the SF Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Oakland Museum Association and the Oakland Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Golden Gate University, SF.

Walt is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Virginia Kollen Ousterman, with whom he shared a beautiful 34-year marriage. He was blessed with three children by a previous marriage: Diana Rachael Scoggins of Portland, Oregon and Blythe Ellen Ousterman of San Anselmo, California. His youngest child, Douglas Stewart of Moraga, California predeceased him in 2006. He is also survived by the joys of his later life, five grandchildren: Rachel, Samantha and Daniel Scoggins and Hannah and Oliver Ousterman. In addition, his sisters, Marjorie L. Alexander of Hobe Sound, Florida and Alice M. Ousterman of Westfield, New Jersey also survive him as well as numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

The family wishes to express its gratitude and deep appreciation to Mereseini (Mary) Horne who bestowed loving care and devotion to Walt throughout his illness.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM on Thursday, May 9 at Piedmont Community Church, 400 Highland Ave. Piedmont.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in Walt's honor to Project Healing Waters, a program that brings disabled vets to some of the most magnificent fly fishing spots in the country. Post Office Box 695 LaPlata, MD 20646 or www.projecthealingwaters.org.