Courtesy of Simpson Strong-Tie
“he was one of my heroes in life, deeply generous and at the same time deeply humble.” — Chancellor Emeritus Robert J. Birgeneau (quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle)
When Barclay Simpson ’66 (ex-’43) passed away in November at age 93, Cal lost a larger-than-life figure in business, arts, government, and philanthropy — and one of its most ardent friends. “I’ve loved the school since I was a little kid, and that hasn’t changed at all,” said Simpson last year in a video spot for The Campaign for Berkeley. “I think supporting Cal is doing a great deal for society.”
He and his wife, Sharon, did just that. Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks noted in a statement mourning Simpson’s passing that the couple had left an indelible legacy across campus, including:
- The Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance, a game changer for student-athletes
- A new, more accessible Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA), expected to open in early 2016 in downtown Berkeley
- Support for undergraduate scholarships, the Haas School of Business, and the University Library
The Simpsons also co-chaired The Campaign for Berkeley, which raised $3.13 billion from more than 281,000 donors. In addition to his campaign work, he served two terms as board president at BAM/PFA and as a UC Berkeley Foundation trustee.
Courtesy of Simpson Strong-Tie
A colorful, generous life
Born in Oakland and a child of the Great Depression, Simpson once recalled sneaking over a fence to catch Cal football games for free. As a Berkeley student during World War II, Simpson signed up for the U.S. Naval Air Corps and deployed as a pilot with the elite Flying Golden Bears. The war and the demands of his business disrupted his studies, yet he maintained his connection to campus through the years and earned a B.S. degree in business administration in 1966.
He later founded Simpson Manufacturing — one of the world’s most successful firms and the maker of Simpson Strong- Ties, the industry standard for structural connectors. More than an entrepreneur, he also advocated for equity and access — for employees at his plants, for young people in underserved Bay Area communities, and for the general public. Among many other causes they championed, the Simpsons have supported Girls Inc. of Alameda County, reflecting their conviction that helping young girls will transform their lives and serve society in the long run.
In conferring the Berkeley Medal to Simpson in 2013, Chancellor Emeritus Robert J. Birgeneau said, “Barc, in everything that you have achieved, you have enriched the lives of those around you — mind, body, and spirit.”
