Rudolph Edmund; CLU Professor, Dean

Rudolph “Rudy” Edmund, professor emeritus of geology and former vice president for academic affairs at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, died of respiratory failure Nov. 20 in Rock Island, Ill. He was 87.

Edmund was born March 9, 1910, in Lockridge, Iowa. He received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island in 1934, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in geology at the University of Iowa.

He worked as a geologist in the oil industry and taught at Augustana College for 12 years before coming to California in 1969.

He served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college from 1969 to 1973 and was professor of geology from 1974 to 1980.

Edmund and his late wife Doris had three children and were members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.

In addition to developing the Senior Mentor Program at Cal Lutheran, Edmund researched and wrote about preserving the natural beauty of Mountclef Ridge, a lava outcropping described as a “remnant of wildness,” located on the north side of the campus.

Edmund worked with Senior Concerns to build the Fitzgerald Center care facility and was a member of the Scandinavian American Foundation.

In 1994, the Edmunds moved to Illinois to be close to family members.

Memorial donations may be made to Care of the Earth Endowment, a scholarship fund established at CLU in 1994 to honor Edmund. The endowment provides support for student and faculty exploration of geological issues conservation.

Donations may also be made to Augustana College, and Holden Village National Lutheran Retreat Center, in Washington state.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.

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