Death of family friend: Walter Neustadt, amazing philanthropist and a great, kind man

Walter Neustadt: Oilman, philanthropist, University of Oklahoma regent

11:53 AM CST on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com

Walter Neustadt was a philanthropist who gave more than money to the causes he supported.

A longtime University of Oklahoma benefactor, he served on the school's Board of Regents and was an OU Foundation trustee. But it was his hands-on approach with the Neustadt International Prize for Literature that showed the depth of his passion for students.

The former Ardmore oil man continued his spirit of generosity after moving to Dallas in 1998.

Mr. Neustadt, 90, died Tuesday of complications of lung cancer at his Dallas home.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Temple Emanu-El. He will be buried in Temple Emanu-El Cemetery.

"He cared about putting wind in the sails of students," said R.C. Davis-Undiano, the University of Oklahoma's Neustadt Professor of Comparative Literature.

Mr. Neustadt had a deep and passionate commitment to students, Dr. Davis-Undiano said.

He expanded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature – founded by his mother more than 40 years ago – to address an array of student needs.

"It was under Walter's watch that we extended the program to include a lot of student scholarships and fellowships and courses and internships," Dr. Davis-Undiano said. "It really, really flourished under him."

Mr. Neustadt was deeply involved with both his family and the groups he supported, said his daughter Kathy Neustadt Hankin of Denver.

"He was a quiet leader; he was immensely respected and proud of the organizations that he got involved in, and his family," his daughter said.

Mr. Neustadt was born in Ardmore, Okla., and attended the Mercersberg Academy, a preparatory school in Mercersberg, Pa. He received his bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1940, and his master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1941.

During World War II, he served with the Army Air Forces, assigned to combat intelligence with the 8th Air Force from 1943 to 1945.

After the war, he joined his family's Ardmore-based oil company, Westheimer-Neustadt Corp., founded in 1946. He served as the company's president from 1965 until it was sold to Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. of Tulsa in 1981.

In 1998, Mr. Neustadt moved to Dallas, where he continued his philanthropy, supporting causes that included Equest, a therapeutic horseback-riding program, and the Vogel Alcove, which provides child care for homeless children.

In 1999, he founded the Dot and Walter Neustadt Lecture Series at Temple Emanu-El.

Mr. Neustadt was a 33rd-degree Mason and had been a trustee of National Jewish Hospital in Denver.

He was a University of Oklahoma regent from 1969 to 1976, and an OU Foundation trustee, serving as chairman for 10 years.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Neustadt is survived by his wife, Dottie Neustadt of Dallas; two other daughters, Nancy Barcelo of Watertown, Mass., and Susan Schwartz of Dallas; a sister, Joan Weil of Dallas; a brother, Allen Neustadt of Dallas; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Walter Jr. and Dolores K. Neustadt Scholarship Fund, No. 42351, in care of Karen Renfroe, Regional Major Director, University of Oklahoma, 339 W. Boyd, Whitehand Hall, Norman, Okla. 73019.