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Banker-philanthropist Carl E. Hartnack, who spearheaded one of the most successful fund-raising campaigns in USC’s history, died after a long illness on Jan. 3, in Santa Barbara. He was 83.
As president and chairman of the board of the Los Angeles-based Security Pacific National Bank, Hartnack oversaw the bank’s statewide and international expansion and was an advocate for the redevelopment of downtown Los Angeles in the 1970s. To help stimulate the redevelopment of Bunker Hill, he agreed to move Security Pacific’s corporate headquarters to the area in 1974. The 55-story Security Pacific Building was the first skyscraper constructed there.
As national chairman of the Campaign for USC – then the university’s largest fund-raising effort – Hartnack far surpassed development expectations, netting more than $640 million for the school from 1984 to 1990. During the university’s Toward Century II campaign of 1976-1981, he served as co-chairman for national leadership gifts.
A native Angeleno, Hartnack joined the USC Board of Trustees in 1975, serving as chairman of the board from 1980 until 1985. He became a life trustee in 1991.
“Carl Hartnack was a smart, diligent and insightful businessman and civic leader, and an exemplary and generous humanitarian,” said USC President Steven B. Sample. “His kindness, unfailing humor and talent for getting things done won wide admiration. Los Angeles and USC have lost a great friend.”
FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM L.A.’s Belmont High in 1934, Hartnack won a full engineering scholarship to USC, but the Depression demanded that he go to work instead. He began his banking career that same year when he joined Security Pacific, starting as a bookkeeper and rising through the ranks from messenger to escrow clerk to branch manager to senior administrator.
Hartnack was a recipient of the Presidential Medallion (USC’s highest honor) and the Asa V. Call Achievement Award (the university’s highest alumni award). He received an honorary doctorate of laws degree in 1981.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Roberta; his daughter, Gretchen; his sons, Richard and Robert; and seven grandchildren. Donations may be sent to the James H. Zumberge Faculty Research and Innovation Endowment Fund c/o the Office of the President, Bovard Administration Building, Room 110, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012. Cards and letters will be forwarded to the Hartnack family.
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