The tenth anniversary of the death of university founder George Pepperdine passed without much fanfare in 1972. His death (of an aortic aneurysm) in 1962 was followed by a funeral featuring president Norvel Young, among others.

Pepperdine spent the last several years of his life living modestly after practically all of the money he hadn't donated to the school was lost in imprudent investments. He was survived by his (second) wife, Helen, who continued to serve on Pepperdine's Board of Trustees for many years.¹