The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Story by:

• Jade Griffin- [email protected]

Share This:

• Share this story on Linkedin
• Share this story on Facebook
• Share this story on Threads
• Share this story on Twitter
• Share this story via email

Article Content

A quarter century ago, UC San Diego received a milestone donation: an estate gift of more than $10 million to establish the Rik and Flo Henrikson Endowed Fund. The largest unrestricted gift ever to UC San Diego, the endowment was established to provide UC San Diego's chancellors with flexibility to use the funding to meet the university's greatest needs. As time has passed and the world has evolved, that gift has proved not only to be one of great generosity, but also one of remarkable foresight.

The endowment was established in 2001 by Rik Henrikson, a San Diego attorney and real estate investor. Henrikson believed in the power of education to benefit society. That belief - and Henrikson's decision to make the gift unrestricted - has become even more meaningful during a time when universities across the nation have faced increasingly uncertain funding streams.

"UC San Diego is one of the top public universities in the world, thanks to the visionary support of individuals like Rik and Flo Henrikson," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "Unrestricted funding is incredibly valuable because it allows us to meet the most pressing needs of the university at any given time. The Henrikson endowment has been used to support our students with scholarships and fellowships, and it has helped drive collaborative research efforts with potential for great impact."

Following standard endowment practices, the Henrikson Endowed Fund distributes annual investment returns to support campus programs, while a portion of the available distribution can be reinvested to preserve and grow the fund's real value over time. This approach ensures the endowment can continue supporting its purpose for generations to come. The endowment has grown to nearly $40 million since it was established.

But unlike many endowed funds that are designated to support specific areas of campus, the Henrikson endowment gives the chancellor flexibility to utilize the funding to respond to UC San Diego's highest priorities.

Over the years, the fund has supported undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and multidisciplinary research initiatives that bring together faculty and students from across campus. The Rik and Flo Henrikson Commons in the Audrey Geisel University House is named in honor of the couple's support and serves as a gathering place for dialogue, collaboration and leadership.

A Local Legacy

Rik Henrikson's connection to San Diego - and ultimately to UC San Diego - began shortly after World War II. After earning his law degree from UC Berkeley, he came to the region while serving in the U.S. Army cavalry, patrolling on horseback at Camp Lockett in Campo. San Diego would become his lifelong home.

Henrikson went on to co-found the law firm Jennings, Engstrand and Henrikson in 1948 with his friend from law school, Paul Engstrand, and Bill Jennings. The firm's primary expertise was in water law. The firm also specialized in real estate and business law, as well as estate planning. Jennings, Engstrand and Henrikson became a fixture in East County, with deep roots in La Mesa and, for a period, an office in downtown San Diego. Lake Jennings in East County is named for Jennings' water law representation in the region.

Colleagues and clients - many of whom became close friends and business partners - remember Henrikson as a careful thinker and trusted advisor. He was known for his ability to structure complex real estate transactions with precision and foresight, earning the confidence of those who relied on his counsel. Early in his career, Henrikson developed a strong personal interest in real estate investment, borrowing money from his mother to get started.

"Rik had an extraordinary ability to see the long view," said Tony Dimitroff, trustee of Henrikson's estate and his former law partner. "He didn't just solve today's problem. He thought about what decisions would mean 10, 20 or 50 years down the road."

That long-range perspective made Henrikson especially adept at serving as the architect, and oftentimes the quarterback, of major real estate ventures. According to colleagues, Henrikson excelled at designing the financial frameworks that supported real estate holdings, including Grossmont Center. He negotiated the land purchase, assembled a group of investors who would become limited partners - including Clay Perkins, the financial analyst who assisted him - and structured the financial model that governed the center's operations.

While Henrikson assembled and invested in significant real estate holdings, he was known for living modestly with far more interest in ideas, planning and problem-solving than in outward displays of success. An active, lifelong learner, Henrikson loved flying airplanes, skiing and golf. At one point, he was the majority owner of Cottonwood Golf Course in El Cajon.

As a leader, Henrikson showed great trust in the people around him. "Rik hired good people, gave them room to do their work and trusted them - that was very much his style," said Christine V. Pate, who worked with Henrikson in the early 1970s before becoming a San Diego Superior Court judge in 1988.

That trust extended in ways that were unusual for the era. Pate recalled Henrikson routinely turning substantive client work over to female associates without hesitation. "He was forthcoming to say, 'Chris is going to be handling this,' even when clients expected to work only with him," she said. "That kind of confidence and respect was not common at the time."

Judith Solomon, who joined the firm as an associate in 1978 and was later made a firm partner, recalled: "At a time when women lawyers were often underestimated, Rik made his expectations clear: he trusted us and he expected clients to do the same."