Walter F. Florin Memorial Scholarship

The Walter F. Florin Memorial Scholarship is the result of one man’s love of life in the fullest sense. Walter Florin was a quiet man, but his passions ran deep. Those who knew him best knew that beneath his quiet demeanor was a man of conviction and purpose.

Walter served in the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving the Bronze Star for evacuating wounded servicemen in 1945. Following his discharge, he settled in Santa Cruz, California, where he worked as a soils technician for the county. He was ahead of the times in his understanding of conservation and the importance of recycling for future use. He preached that message to all who would listen. He also loved to work with his hands, whether as a woodcarver or as an avid flower and vegetable gardener.

Walter was also a man of faith. Every Sunday he took his post as greeter for the worshipers at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. His warm and welcoming greeting was the first event in the day of worship. He encouraged his two daughters, Patricia ’74 and Naomi ’76, to attend Cal Lutheran, and he supported CLU in other ways as well. After many years of giving to the CLU annual fund, he made a major gift in support of Mogen Hall’s construction. As a result, his name appears on a plaque in the student lounge there. He included the University in his estate, providing for the establishment and endowment of the scholarship that bears his name.

Walter’s daughter Naomi was especially close to her father, and they shared a passion for many of the same things. In fact, because he was such a successful gardener, she learned to can food so that she could preserve much of what he grew. When it came time to establish the Walter F. Florin Memorial Scholarship, it seemed like a natural step to designate it as an award in environmental studies. The recipient must be an academically strong upper-division student pursuing a minor or major in environmental studies.

As Naomi wrote, “Through this scholarship in environmental studies, may Walter’s love of the soil, plants, and the environment continue to thrive.”