News Scrapbook 1980

UI~ a,, 'l, Jq, «.(O Portia Merriam Dies; La Jolla Social Leader · LA JOLLA - Portia Merriam, prominent in cultural and university circles, has died at her home here. She was a native of Carbonado, Wash,, and active in so- cial and cultural affairs in Detroit and Phoneix before mov- ing to La Jolla in 1956. Mrs. Merriam, who died Monday, was chairwoman of the fi t Chancellor's Ball at the University of San Diego, oun g mem r o n Diego Medical Center Auxil- iary and the School of Medicine Associates, and a member of the Social Service League of La Jolla and the Commit- tee oflOO. She also was an honorary board member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a founder of the La Jolla Chamber Music Society. In 1978, the UC San Diego Medical Center Auxiliary established the annual Merriam Medal "as a tribute to the creative and dynamic spirit of Mrs. Merriam" and to enoourage volunteerism to which she dedicated much of her life. Her most recent volunteer effort for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was an annual outing for children afflicted by the disease. She was the widow of deWitt H. Merriam, a Detroit jurist for 22 years and one of the founders of the University of San Diego Law School. He died in 1965. Memorial services for Mrs. Merriam will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, La Jolla. Contributions to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are suggested. WIDOW OF JURIST Portia Merriam Rites Set (Continued from B-1) arship funds and the pres- School of Medicine Associ- ervation of San Diego's her- ates. itage. She was a founder of the In 1978 the "Merriam La Jolla Chamber Music Medal" was established by Society, and a member of the UCSD Medical Center the Social Service League Auxiliary as a tribute to the of La Jolla and the Commit- "creative and dynamic tee of 100. spirit of Mrs. Merriam." Her most recent charita- The gold medal is awarded ble efforts were the local annually to encourage vo- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, lunteerism and to perpetu- for which she annually ate the efforts of volunteers gave a gala outing for chil- throughout the county. clren. Last year the trek Mrs. Merriam was chair- was to San Juan Capistrano man of the first UCSD on a train and bus trip. Chancellor's Ball and was Mrs. Merriam has no

MRS. MERRIAM Rites Friday For Cultural, Civic Leader

THE SAN DIEGO UNION (D High Court Jurist Honored By USO argula to (Iran's) Kho- "From (Roman Emperor) C 0 the inde e,1dence meini, tyrants have so~ght to _detsrol individuals are to of the judiciary," but.if th e ~gh must be protected, survive, the court's mdepenc e;e Justice Mathew O. California State Supreme o Tobriner said here yesterday th state bench for the past Tobriner' who has been o~ . e an honorary doctor of 18 years, spoke after J~e1:~fy of San Diego School of laws degree from thed .:;~th anniversary yesterday. Law which celebrate 1 !late court judges Recent efforts t? have st at~o:i!: if those judges are elected by the public must be _b ents which anger big to remain free to ha nd down JUigmyet protect the individu- buslness, labor and govemmen ' al, Tobriner said. . ht of the individual has In the past yea~s: th e ng a ainst the right of the gained increasmg Judici~l sup~rtaufocratic institutions" sometimes '.'ove~phowen~~vi~~al has historically been against which . t e m i helpless," he ~id. h·fted from where in the past a The emphasis has now s I gligent to today, when the company had to be bplrovenpe~~tions must be fulfilled, he consumer's reasona e ex said. . ould have done this if "But it is doubtf~ that Judge!i~cal attack in election they h~d ~;n subJectedft~~ ~nnoying labor, industq, campaigns, beca~,se judges would noi fare well m government, etc., sue . ·ct popularity con~ests," the justice sa1 .

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Portia Merriam Mrs. Portia Merriam, a cultural and civic leader in Detroit, Phoenix and San Diego, died Monday in her

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LaJ:!~J~~:~ices will be W at 2 p.m. Friday in St. ii • \~\!eJ~:!.~~~ lli_ vices were held in 1965 for m her late husband, famed !,,] jurist deWitt H. Merriam, ,; at that church. = mEornrtoowmbamtenFtorwile·s~ bla:~ Memorial Park in Glen-

_ Stott Photo by John Gibbins atulates California Su-

To'oriner said later that while he shared the conc~rn of many university officials that the Proposition 9 state income tax initiative on th~ June 3 ballot might result in budget cuts for public campuses, he could not a ee with those whO chal· 1fnge the initiative ~rocess as a way of changmg the law. • "I 'oelieve that Proposi- tion 9 and its predece~or, Proposition 13, are ternble, but they are not grou~?s (or abandoning the m1tiative process," said Tobrmer. Tobriner was introduced to the assembly of students, faculty and lawyers by law school Dean Donald T. weckstein. The degr~e :,vas conferred 'oy San Diego Bishop Leo T. Maher.

Bishop LeO Maher con~w O Tobriner after he preme court Justice Math doctor of laws diploma was presented a_n honor~ the USD law school's during ceremomes mar g 25th birthday. • • 2,w

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d~e. native of Carbonado, :e~s\u~::~:e:~:d Phoenix in 1945 following his retirement from the Third Judicial District Jolla, where they became supporters of numerous charitable and cultural ''"~""'· '"' '""" ~•rrl-j @ am helped found the Uni- fB versity of San Diego Law ·'· School. tj Mrs. Merriam devoted M. her enermes to various phi- @ lanthropl·c organizations i and community projects. j Her efforts helped support % the performing and visual arts, hospital clinics, schol- , ~~~~~:..12-J 11.· I l!I• Court for Michigan. In 1956 they moved to La I ., ft

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an honorary board member of the Cystic Fibrosis Soci- ety. She was a founding member of both the UCSD Medical Auxiliary and the

known survivors.

Donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foun- dation.

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