Lou Fackler ’43

Upon graduation, Lou entered the Naval Officers Training Program and went to UC Berkeley where he studied Mechanical Engineering and Naval Science. He received his commission as Ensign, USNR in 1946 and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. Lou served as a division officer in the Engineering Department during his tour of duty until late 1952, then continued as an inactive Navy Reserve until he retired in 1985 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, USNR. Starting in 1952, Lou worked at UC Berkeley as an assistant engineer. The University of California was planning a campus at Santa Cruz in 1962 and Lou was hired by Founding Chancellor Dean McHenry as Campus Engineer to work with Campus Architect Jack Wagstaff. In Lou’s own words: “My job was a real challenge and a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the building of a new campus of the University of California. My basic responsibilities were to make sure when the students arrived the lights worked, the toilets flushed and there would be heat as well as a road or two.” Lou’s contributions to the campus included the fostering of a culture of energy and water conservation in the construction and maintenance of campus buildings and grounds that prevails to this day. In recognition of Lou’s contributions to the campus, The Regents of the University of California approved naming the central heating plant the “F. Louis Fackler Cogeneration Plant.” Lou died in 2013.