The Best of
Class Notes - 2017
Class Notes chronicles important events in the lives of UCLA alumni – from changes in employment to accolades for achievement to the passing of our valued UCLA family members. We’ve assembled the highlights from this past year.
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D. ’01
In April, Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D. ’01, became the president of the University of Houston-Downtown, Houston’s second largest university. He credits the education he received at UCLA with helping to prepare him for this opportunity.
Diane Donoghue ’54
Former UCLA Alumnus of the Year Sister Diane Donoghue ’54, who devoted her life to assisting the poor and underrepresented in our community, passed away Feb. 26 at age 86.
Harold Williams ’46
Harold Williams ’46, former dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management, former UC regent and a founding trustee of the UCLA Foundation, died July 30 at his home in Santa Ynez at age 89. Williams was also a former Alumnus of the Year and a recipient of the UCLA Medal.
Charles Burnett ’69, M.F.A. ’77
Award-winning filmmaker Charles Burnett ’69, M.F.A. ’77, received an honorary Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Nov. 11. In 1990, Burnett became the first African-American to collect the National Society of Film Critics’ best screenplay prize.
Marty Sklar ’56
Legendary Disney Imagineer, former Alumni Association board member and Daily Bruin editor Marty Sklar ’56 passed away in his Hollywood Hills home on July 27 at age 83. For more than half a century, Sklar was instrumental in sharing the magic of Disney-themed entertainment with people around the globe.
Linda Liau, Ph.D. ’99, M.B.A. ’16
Linda Liau, Ph.D. ’99, M.B.A. ’16 was appointed chair of the department of neurosurgery, effective Aug. 21. A UCLA-trained neurosurgeon, Liau’s clinical expertise is in intraoperative functional brain mapping and use of intraoperative adjuvants for the resection and treatment of brain tumors.
Eric Shaw ’98
UCLA Alumni Association board member Eric Shaw ’98 (Gold Member) has been named a Top 20 LGBT+ public sector executive by OUTstanding, a professional network for LGBT+ executives and their allies.
Bob Schiller ’39
Legendary comedy writer Bob Schiller ’39 passed away on Oct. 10 at age 98. Schiller and writing partner Bob Weiskopf were pioneers in television sitcom writing, counting scripts for “I Love Lucy,” “All in the Family” and “Maude” among their numerous credits.
Cailin Crockett ’10
Alumni Scholar, Astin Civic Engagement Scholar and third-generation Bruin Cailin Crockett ’10 (Life Member) is making a difference through policy on behalf of survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Harry Pregerson ’47
U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson ’47, one of the most liberal federal appeals court judges in the nation, died Nov. 25 at his home in Woodland Hills. He was 94.
These Bruins are a small subset of the many whose accomplishments and memories we honored in 2017. If you would like your story, or that of a fellow Bruin, celebrated in a Class Note, please visit our website or email us at classnotes@support.ucla.edu. Please indicate your name and include the subject’s name and class year(s).
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