Dr. David Lewis Outcalt, 78

D

r. David Lewis Outcalt, who passed away on November 7, was a true Renaissance man—an accomplished musician, gifted mathematician, community leader, loving husband and father and a humble man of God. Dr. Outcalt was born in Los Angeles on January 30, 1935, to Earl Kenyon Outcalt and Alberta Estes Ferguson Outcalt.

Growing up as the son of a Naval Officer, he graduated from La Jolla High School in 1952. A prodigy on the violin, he was a member of the San Diego Philharmonic Orchestra while in high school.

He attended Pomona College where he was a member of the Phi Delta Fraternity and first violin and concertmaster of the school’s orchestra while graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. During the summer before his senior year, he met Marcia L. Beach while both were working at Yellowstone National Park, and they married on July 1, 1956.

He went on to receive a Master’s Degree from Claremont McKenna Graduate School and a Doctorate from The Ohio State University, both in mathematics.

He was a professor of mathematics at Claremont and Scripps College before moving to UC Santa Barbara where he worked for 15 years, including two years as an exchange professor with the University of Hawaii, as a math professor, Chairman of the mathematics department, Dean of Instructional Development, and author of five college calculus and algebra text books—all while raising four sons.

In 1980 he moved to Alaska as the Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the University of Alaska, Anchorage. A year later he was named Chancellor of the University. There, he became a member of the International Association of University Presidents and received an honorary doctorate from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea. He also negotiated an exchange agreement between UAA and the Siberian Branch of the Soviet Academy of Medical Sciences.

From 1986 to 1993, he was at the helm at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. While leading development of long-range strategic plans for the future of the university, he also constructed six new student dorms, a new student union and oversaw the fundraising and construction of the Weidner Performing Arts center.  Active with the National Collegiate Athletic Association he served as chair of the NCAA Peer Review Team and also as President of the Mid-Continent Conference. In 1994 he returned to teaching at UWGB and retired in 1998 as Chancellor Emeritus.

He and his wife, Marcia, retired to Kapaa, Kauai, where he enjoyed an active outdoors lifestyle and was President of the local Rotary Club. After 48 years of marriage, his wife passed away, and he returned to California in 2005, settling in Pacific Palisades to be near his sons.

In 2011 he married for the second time to Maria Mangold who had been a college sweetheart when he was at Pomona College 56 years earlier. He remained active as a violinist playing with the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, the Topanga Symphony Orchestra and most recently with the Mill Valley Symphony Orchestra. He was active with the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church and heavily involved there with spiritual education and the Stephen Ministries.

He is survived by his wife Maria; four sons Jeffrey (and Gail), Kevin (and Debbie), Gregory (and Kathy) and Eric; nine Outcalt grandchildren Kelly, Christopher, Dana, Matthew, Amanda, Andrew, Rebecca, Megan and Alex; and his beloved Hawaiian dog Makalani. He will be remembered for his intelligence, leadership, active spirit and constant efforts to help others succeed. He was a teacher at heart.

A service in Mount Vernon, OH, took place on November 18. An additional service will take place at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church. The date is still to be determined. Contact: (310) 454-0366.

Memorial contributions can be made to: The Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church at 15821 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA  90272.