Dr. Gaylerd Falde Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship came into being in a way that was rather unique. Dr. Gaylerd Falde, long-time bishop of the South Pacific District of the American Lutheran Church and a close friend of Cal Lutheran, passed away in August 1989. Fortuitously, his colleague and friend of many years, Rev. Ansle Severtson, had already begun writing a chronicle of Dr. Falde’s life and ministry. The chronicle included much about the early development of Lutheranism in the West and particularly in Southern California. It was a manuscript that needed to be published.

With the help of a 1990 grant from Aid Association for Lutherans, the book entitled Gaylerd Falde: A Bishop for His Time went to print. Those seeking to obtain a copy were required to make a contribution to a scholarship fund at CLU bearing Dr. Falde’s name. The scholarship was to be awarded to a student preparing to serve the church through his or her God-given talents and personal commitment.

The book was widely distributed to individuals, colleges and seminaries, much to the delight of its author, Rev. Severtsen. The Dr. Gaylerd Falde Memorial Scholarship fund reached endowment level in 1996 and the scholarship was awarded for the first time on Honors Day that same year. The first recipient was a very accomplished Latina student who had hopes of attending a Lutheran seminary for her M.Div. and ultimately her Ph.D.

Dr. Falde’s wife Joan maintained a relationship with CLU following her husband’s death. When she passed away in 2003, she left a generous bequest that was added to the scholarship’s endowment. The Faldes’ son Gary eventually requested that his mother’s name be added to the scholarship’s title, making it the Dr. Gaylerd and Joan Falde Memorial Scholarship. It was a fitting conclusion to this meaningful effort.