Name/Title
Oral History of Roy LaveEntry/Object ID
2015.113.001Scope and Content
Lave went to the University of Michigan and received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in business and industrial engineering. He earned a Ph.D. from Stanford in Operations Research.
After Roy married Penny they moved to California in 1961 when Roy received a Ph.D. fellowship at Stanford. They moved to Los Altos in 1964 when Roy was teaching at Stanford. In 1974 Roy was elected to City Council with Ruth Koehler focusing on parkland and open space. They voted for the city of Los Altos to acquire Redwood Grove, Heritage Park and the Hillview School property that became the Los Altos Community Center.
Roy became active in the Rotary Club, including as a member of its AIDS Task Force which developed the award-winning video of the Club’s experience with AIDs which was shown to Rotary Clubs worldwide.
Roy describes his business career as Co-founder, CEO and Board Chair of Systan, Inc. (1966-2007) and his work with the non-profit he founded, the Los Altos Community Foundation. This organization provides grants to community organizations and raised money to save the local theater from collapse. Roy actively supported the Los Altos Conservatory Theater (1977-1995) and its Bus Barn Theater.
The most noteworthy part of this oral history interview was how Roy Lave’s vision and actions in support of this community were manifested in so many different ways.Collection
Oral History CollectionOral History Details
Interviewee
Roy LaveInterviewer
Marcia AdamsInterview Date
Jun 16, 2015