Special Campus Memo: Passing of Life Trustee Fred Little '53

Life Trustee Fred A. Little '53 died Dec. 28, 2017, at home in San Francisco, Calif. Fred graduated from Grinnell with a B.A. in history and French. He lettered in tennis, reaching the Midwest conference finals his senior year. He also served on The Scarlet & Black's editorial board his junior year. After Grinnell, Fred earned a law degree from Harvard and a master's degree in law from Georgetown University, where he was an adjunct professor of securities law. He retired as a senior partner with the San Francisco, Calif., law firm of Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, & Pittman. He was active in cultural and civic affairs in the various cities where he lived.

Fred joined Grinnell's Board of Trustees in 1976 and from 1976 to 1978 served as the College's national chair of the annual fund. In 1996 he became a life trustee and served as chair of the board from 1998 to 2000, following in the footsteps of his father Fred A. Little Sr. 1916.

Fred was a generous supporter of the College's programs, facilities, and endowments. He contributed to the scholarship fund that honors his father; to the Conard Environmental Research Area in memory of his mother, Helen B. Wallace; and to athletics facilities, including the Charles Benson Bear '39 Recreation and Athletic Center. Fred also gave freely of his time and talents to advance the educational mission of the liberal arts.

He is survived by his wife Connie Little and his children, Anne (David) Gruppo; Caroline H. Little '81 (Daniel Burton), a life trustee of the College and former board chair; and Winston (Amy) Little.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Towers, 1661 Pine Street, San Francisco.