Al Hastings ’42 passed away on April 27, 2012 at his home in Palm Desert. Al was a Life Trustee, former Chairman of the Board, a loyal donor and alumnus, and one of the kindest people to have ever served The Webb Schools.
He is survived by his loyal wife of 33 years, Liz Hastings. Al and Liz have a large family from previous marriages, including Al's children, Jenna Lawson of Australia, Carol Hastings of Santa Monica, and Richard Hastings ’69 of Seal Beach; and Liz's children, Ann Wolfe of La Quinta, Jim Wolfe of Costa Rica, and Paki Heintz of Manhattan Beach. Al and Liz were loyal members of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert. Memorial services are not yet scheduled, and are likely to occur in the fall.
Al lived with the Webbs in their own home during his senior year in 1941-42. As a student he served as an honor committeeman and enjoyed sports (especially basketball, baseball, and football – earning him membership in Block W). Following Webb, Al attended Pomona College and spent his career at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
His long history of service to Webb spans more than fifty years including thirty-eight years as a trustee. In 1962, it was Al Hastings who stood next to Thompson Webb at his retirement celebration and presented him with a Webb Bible. In the early 1970s, when the board was considering the idea of bringing girls to campus, Al Hastings recalled an informal board vote on the subject: “There were two votes in favor of a girls school,” he said. “One was Dr. Webb’s and the other was mine.” It was not until ten years later that vision would become reality.
In the late 1970s, Al Hastings was instrumental in hiring Headmaster Stephen Longley and subsequently replacing him six years later following his untimely death. Al oversaw the appointment of a new headmaster and appointed Longley’s widow, Ann, as the first Headmistress of Vivian Webb School. Around the same time, Al introduced Webb to the Lluella Morey Murphey Foundation, which he served as a trustee. Working in partnership with the foundation, Al funded scholarships for minority students. In 1996, the scholarships were made permanent with the creation of an endowed fund.
In a moment of foreshadowing, Thompson Webb evaluated Al in 1942 with the following statement: “I consider Hastings an exceedingly fine character, dependable, trustworthy and conscientious. He is a boy of ability and I feel sure will measure up to any trust placed upon him.” Amen. Al Hastings will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.