Leslie Ferguson Langnecker Luttgens

LESLIE FERGUSON LANGNECKER LUTTGENS passed away peacefully at her home in San Francisco on October 27, 2017. Mrs. Luttgens, a community and civic leader, foundation trustee, corporate director, philanthropist, was a trailblazer for women who chose volunteerism as a career. She set precedents in the corporate world as an effective director on boards, and in the volunteer sector as a committed leader and advocate for health, education and social service causes. Born December 27, 1922 in Palo Alto, CA, she attended Stanford University (Class of ’43) where she served as vice president and later president of the student body. She was married to William F. Luttgens, M.D. (1947) who pre deceased her in 1982, and had one sister, Jane Langnecker Stratte, who predeceased her in 1980. She is survived by one daughter, Elisabeth (Lise) Luttgens and one granddaughter, Katherine (Kate) Santulli, both residing in Los Angeles.

Mrs. Luttgens worked at the Stanford (later Presbyterian) Hospital Auxiliary (founding member), and the San Francisco Junior League (past president) and the Volunteer Bureau. Throughout her career in San Francisco from the 1950’s to the present, she served in leadership, governance and fundraising roles including the National Council on Foundations (former Chairman), Rosenberg Foundation (past President and Trustee Emeritus), the Walter S. Johnson and Coro Foundations (past Director), Northern California Grantmakers, President Reagan’s Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives, San Francisco Business Leadership Task Force (past Chairwoman), Private Industry Council of San Francisco (past Vice Chair), UCSF Board of Overseers, San Francisco Dept. of Public Health Advisory Committee, United Bay Area Crusade (first female Board President), Bay Area Social Planning Council, Strive for Five, Committee of 200 (founding member), San Franciscans Seeking Consensus, Mayor Agnos’ Fiscal Advisory Committee and CAO Boas’ Hotel Tax Advisory Committee (past Chairman), Workforce Investment Board for City & Co of San Francisco, San Francisco Education Fund (past Chair), San Francisco Friends of the Library, First Funds of America, Riles-Roth School Commission, Children’s Research Institute, Mills College Associate Council (past Chair), Burke’s and University High Schools (past Vice Chair).

In the corporate sector, Mrs. Luttgens served on boards of directors of Hexcel Corporation, Foremost- McKesson Corporation, Crocker National Bank, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pacific Telesis Group, and Pacific Bell. She received honorary degrees from Mills College and University of San Francisco. She has received the Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award for Leadership, the Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service, the Alumnae Resources WAVE (Women of Achievement, Vision and Excellence) award, among many others.

The family is deeply grateful to her devoted caregivers, Josephine, Bernie and Trish. A celebration of life will be planned at a future date. Contact Lise Luttgens at [email protected] for more information. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Luttgens’ name to the Rosenberg Foundation, 131 Steuart Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94105