Zief Legacy Distinguished by Unwavering Support of USF
July 28, 2008 -- Arthur C. Zief BA '41, JD '47, who transformed the law school with his support of the law library and student scholarships and whose personality and heart are remembered as larger than life, died July 25. He was 89. Zief leaves a legacy as the law school's most generous donor. The Zief Scholarship endowment, valued at $9 million, supports 75 second- and third-year law students each year. His $3.2 million gift in 1998 to support the construction of a new law library, which he named for his wife, Dorraine, represents the largest gift by an individual in the university's history.
"He was such a huge presence at USF that his passing seemed like an event that would never happen," Dean Jeff Brand said. "Now that it has, I hope that we will all reflect on the ways he transformed the law school and remember his unswerving and inspiring belief in how good we are and the potential that we have."
Zief was born in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1919. His parents died when he was a young boy, and Zief later moved to California with his sister during the Depression. He attended Lowell High School and then earned a bachelor's degree from USF. He spent four years in the Navy before returning to USF for law school. Zief met his wife at a USF dance and they married six weeks later. The young couple struggled to make ends meet while Zief was a student. After graduating, he went on to practice law in San Francisco for more than 40 years.
Zief was committed to providing students with the best learning environment, with his support of the Dorraine Zief Law Library being a prime example. But he also showed his support in more unconventional ways: buying a baby grand piano for the student lounge so students would always have "music in their lives," furnishing the student boulevard with leather couches, and purchasing a large screen television for the lounge in the library.
Zief took an active interest in the law school, visiting regularly. While the library was being built, Zief was a fixture at the construction site and many of the workers quickly knew him on a first name basis. The law school made him a director's chair with his name on the back from which he would monitor the progress while perched in the Kendrick Hall parking garage overlooking the site.
Not only did he transform the law school with his generosity, but he was also a dedicated supporter of the wider university. As an undergraduate, he collected money from every student to pay for a new campus watering system. When he graduated in 1941, he received the university's "Loyalty Award." He went on to become the largest donor in the history of the university.
"USF had no more loyal alum nor munificent benefactor than Art Zief," said USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. "Art felt that he owed much of his success to the university and was adamant about his responsibility to give others the opportunities that USF gave him. Art's legacy includes a state of the art law school library and generations of law students who will benefit in perpetuity from the scholarships that he established. While the university community mourns Art's passing, we also celebrate a life of passion and generosity and a personality and heart larger than life itself. Home games for men's basketball will not be the same without Art Zief on the sidelines with a box of popcorn."
A fixture at Dons basketball games, Zief also funded scholarships for student athletes and contributed to a renovation of War Memorial Gymnasium. The lobby is now named for his son, Artie Jr.
His son, who is developmentally disabled, was Zief's other source of philanthropic inspiration. In addition to contributing to organizations that promote the well-being of the developmentally disabled, the Ziefs established the Arthur Zief Jr. Foundation in 1988. The foundation has purchased nine homes in San Mateo County where nearly 50 severely developmentally disabled adults now live.
"I want to help others who don't have parents and others to care for them. I want them to live in good homes. If it's not good enough for me and Dorraine to live in, it's not good enough for those who are disabled," Zief said in a 2001 interview when he was named USF School of Law Alumnus of the Year.
"Artie Jr. has never uttered a word in the 61 years of his life," Brand said. "Art and Dorraine dedicated themselves to giving voice as best as possible to the developmentally disabled. The Arthur Zief Jr. Foundation carries on this noble work."
Zief is survived by his wife, Dorraine; son, Artie Jr.; daughter, Reinart Gelzayd; son-in-law, Dr. Eugene Gelzayd; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Details are being finalized for a memorial service at USF.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Art Zief can be made to the USF School of Law. Checks should be made out to "USF School of Law," with "In memory of Art Zief" written on the memo line and mailed to USF School of Law, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Credit card gifts can be made by calling the Office of Development at (415) 422-5457.
