Flora Lamson Hewlett (August 14, 1914 – February 9, 1977) was an American billionaire philanthropist.

Early life

Flora Lamson was born in 1914 and raised in Berkeley, California, and she summered in the Sierra Nevada. ^{[1] [2] [3]} It was then that she met and became friends with Louise Hewlett, her future husband's sister, as both families had cabins in the Sierra. ^[3] She received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1935. ^{[1] [2]} After graduation, she joined the Sierra Club and reconnected with her friend Louise, who reintroduced her to her future husband, Bill Hewlett, the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. ^[3]

Philanthropy

In 1966, she co-founded the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation with her husband. ^{[1] [2] [3]} She sat on the Board of Trustees of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, and the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a Presbyterian in San Anselmo, California. ^{[1] [2]} She also served on the executive committee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California and on the Board of Directors of California Tomorrow, an environmental non-profit organization. ^{[1] [2]}

The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, a collection of theological books serving the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, is named in her honor. ^{[1] [2]} The Flora Family Foundation, created by her children, is also named in her honor. ^[3] Its symbol is the blue gentiana, her favorite flower. ^[3]

Personal life

In 1939, she married Bill Hewlett, the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. ^{[1] [2]} They had five children and twelve grandchildren. ^{[1] [2]} She was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto. ^{[1] [2]} She died of cancer on February 9, 1977. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

References