VELIA BUTZVelia Butz was the "first lady" of Golden Gate University for more than 22 years, while her husband, Otto W. Butz, served as GGU's president. During President Emeritus Otto Butz's time in office, Mrs. Butz was a dedicated champion of the university. They were married for 41 years, residing in Sausalito since 1965. Since President Emeritus Butz's passing, she continues to support GGU.
Mrs. Butz was a pharmacist licensed to practice both in New Jersey and California. She obtained her degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences, now known as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, the oldest college of pharmacy in the United States.
Together with her husband, she wrote Voyage of Discovery: The History of Golden Gate University from 1970-1992. It tells the story of recognizing emerging needs of the public and Otto Butz's innovations in developing a plan for growth of GGU.
"Supporting GGU was not an activity that required deep contemplation or much hesitancy," said Mrs. Butz. "This institution provided its graduates with the means to successfully achieve their goals, and they should be encouraged to provide others with the means to do the same. According to my husband, Otto, the definition of a life well lived always included the concept of helping others."
