Roy Adler, born 9 September 1943, died 7 March 2009 Newbury Park, Ventura County, California.  He was a 1961 graduate of Okemos High School.

The Malibu Times 18 March 2009

Dr. Roy Adler died March 7 from cardiac arrest at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks. He was 65 years old.

Dr. Adler, a Newbury Park native, was a professor of marketing at Pepperdine University's Seaver College for more than two decades. Educated at Bucknell University, Western Michigan University and Xavier University, Adler received his Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Alabama and had been a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio for 30 years.

He was a member of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Newbury Park, an army officer, a marketing executive at Procter & Gamble, coach of seven Olympic athletes, a participant in the Cannonball Run, chief researcher for Jerry Springer and the author of three books and dozens of articles.

Dr. Adler was recognized by his peers as a distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Marketing Science, one of approximately 40 in the world, but was most proud of the university-wide Luckman Award for teaching bestowed upon him by his former students.

A memorial service for Adler will take place on Mar. 21 at 10 a.m. in the Stauffer Chapel at Pepperdine University, followed by a reception at the Adler family home.

Pepperdine mourns loss of Professor Roy Adler

By Pepperdine Graphic 10 March 2009

Students and colleagues of Dr. Roy Adler are mourning the loss of an integral part of the business administration division admired professor of marketing and father of two sons.

Adler taught at Pepperdine since 1984 and served as area coordinator for marketing since 1986. He went into cardiac arrest during a church fundraiser Saturday March 7 and died at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks that night. He was 65.

“It took me totally by surprise said junior David Cotton, a student in Adler’s introduction to marketing course, Principles of Marketing. He had a lot of energy and enthusiasm and was just a good guy.”

Cotton also said Adler’s encouragement is the main reason he plans to attend the summer study abroad program in Shanghai. Adler who was slated to serve as Shanghai faculty advisor in the summer of 2009 mentioned his intentions during class and then worked to resolve logistical difficulties.

“It was after the deadline but he talked with me and worked with me to get me to be able to go Cotton said. I really enjoyed his marketing class and he was teaching international marketing there. It would’ve been perfect.”

Former students also said Adler left a strong impression.

“He didn’t seem like one of those cookie-cutter professors said junior Sungwoo Choi, who took Principles of Marketing in the fall semester of 2008. He makes you apply learning to real-world situations.”

For instance Adler required students to interview an executive in the area that interested them. This led Cotton to speak to an expert in sustainability.

“I learned more in that assignment than I think I’ve learned in all my classes said Cotton, an international business major. It got me motivated to maybe do that [as a career].”

Adler’s current students learned of his death in an e-mail sent Sunday afternoon by Connie James chair of the business administration division.

“Dr. Adler lived a life of joy James said in the e-mail. I have no doubt that that same spirit lives on. While grieving is natural please remember how much he loved you and would want you to be joyous and find peace even in his passing.”

Many agreed that Adler’s passionate teaching style made class an exciting experience.

“I liked him a lot said junior Joe Grable, who took the introductory class in fall of 2008. He tried to make it fun for everyone. He was very enthusiastic about the class and very passionate.”

Grable also said benefited from the professor’s diverse marketing experiences.

Adler the author of three books and dozens of journal articles was a company commander in the Army executive at companies including Procter & Gamble and chief pollster for Jerry Springer’s 1982 gubernatorial campaign.

Adler has been honored in many prestigious associations and is one of 40 people worldwide recognized as a distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Marketing Science.

According to his Web site however Adler was most proud of the University-wide Luckman Award for teaching which was bestowed by his former students from 1995 to 1999.

“He’s definitely a big asset to the business administration division and he left his mark Grable said. He’s a credit to the university and we’ll all miss him.”

The business administration division office will collect pictures and letters to include in a remembrance book for the Adler family.

Adler’s classes are canceled for Monday. Longer term plans for his two courses Marketing Strategies and Principles of Marketing or the summer term in Shanghai have not been announced.