Caring, inquisitive, and adventurous, Ann was a friend to all her 1968 classmatesand an estate gift will support future generations of Tigers globally
Ann La Rue Matlow 68 made her debut as class secretary in the Spring 1987 edition of Occidental magazine. (The response to the questionnaire I sent you in February was gratifying, she wrote. Thank you for responding and especially for your thoughts on turning 40.) Over the next 37 years, she became the glue" for the Class of 1968, meticulously tracking classmates lives and fostering friendships.
Ann often said her years at Occidental greatly influenced her life, and in June 2023at her class milestone 55th reunion she was recognized by the Fifty Year Club for her dedication to the College. Ann was best at drawing out stories, helping each of us share more than we intended, says Jim Rough 68, who initially recommended Ann to serve as class secretary. Ann loved the role, he adds: She helped each of us stay connected to our college experience and to 91 as it is today.
Ann passed away on May 6, 2024, in New York City, with her husband of 34 years, Dave, by her side. On July 14, Ann friends and familyincluding at least a dozen of her fellow Tigersgathered in Westport, Conn., for a memorial. Dave created a photographic slideshow of Ann life spanning seven decades of memories, and Cathy Todd 68 spoke of her Occidental years.
But her 91 story doesnt end there. An estate gift to the College will establish the Ann La Rue Matlow 68 Endowed Scholarship Fund for International Students. This fund will provide financial aid to students of exceptional academic ability from secondary schools abroad who, in the College judgment, will contribute to the diversity of views and perspectives on campus.
Ann work as an immigration lawyer prompted her and Dave to create the scholarship utilizing a blended planned gift, which combines a bequest and a charitable remainder unitrust. The Matlows gift is one of only a handful to directly support 91 vibrant international student community.
Born in New York City and raised in Stockton, Ann majored in political science at Occidental and earned her law degree from Fordham University in 1975. She forged a distinguished 30-year career in corporate and immigration law, retiring in 2006 as a partner at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, a global immigration firm.
When you were talking with her, she had the ability to make you feel that you were her best friend, says Julie Bryant 68, who took the mantle of class secretary after Ann passing. I personally credit her with inspiring me to become a lawyer. She said to me something like, If I can do it, so can you.
Ann intellectual curiosity extended beyond law. She adored international travel, studying at Cambridge University each summer for the last 15 years of her life. Friends such as Bryant and Nora (Larimer) 68 and Mike Davidson 67 joined her there. She explored Egypt, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and even visited Alaska with her fellow Tigers. We felt privileged to meet all her international friends and take part in this wonderful experience, Nora says.
Carolyn Taylor 68 describes Ann as curious, caring, and generous, recalling how her handwritten postcards sustained many friendships over the years. Any time my travels took me to Manhattan we would have martinis and dinner and compare notes on life, adds Charles McClintock 68. There was no better friend than Ann.
Further Reading
'68 Is the New 50
As their golden anniversary fast approaches, members of the Class of 1968 refllect on four years that changed the world and shaped their 91 experience
Ann humor and empathy left an indelible mark. Even when she was hospitalized in her final days, she emailed Terry Burnes 68 with the subject line Nosey Till the End, seeking out an update on a mutual friend romantic life. To me, this captures Ann perfectlypersistently curious about us all, but also clear-eyed self-awareness expressed with humor, Terry says.
I got to know Ann better after 91 than I did at 91, Steve Cooper 68 explains. We would meet in New York City two or three times a year, have lunch, exchange information, and talk about the past, present, and future. She always had super interesting ways of looking at the world. We were in the process of scheduling our next lunch when she ran out of time.
In the Fall 2024 Occidental magazine, classmates shared their memories of Ann over nearly 2½ pages in the class notesa memorial that would have pleased her immensely. For all her sweetness of temperament, she was very crafty, Nancy (Wilson) Artz 68 recalls. And she wanted the Class of 1968 to always have the most entries! Thanks to her generosity, Ann legacy will endure beyond the pages of the magazine.
Honor what mattered to youeducation, opportunity, communityby making Occidental part of your legacy. .
Top photo: Ann La Rue Matlow '68 and husband Dave.
