In his first week on the job in April, the new president of the Stanford Alumni Association had two goals: to find the water cooler and "get to know the great team."
Howard Wolf, '80, was named by University President John Hennessy to succeed Bill Stone, '67, MBA '69, who retired in December 2000. Citing Wolf's business experience as the founder of publishing company FastMark and his 20 years of volunteer service to the campus, Hennessy said, "Howard has an enthusiasm for Stanford that is absolutely contagious."
The former Lake Lag lifeguard and intramural water polo player majored in psychology and went on to earn an mba at Harvard Business School. He served as senior vice president and managing director for Cornish & Carey Realty Advisors and as senior vice president and partner at William Wilson & Associates, a commercial real estate firm, before launching his own business from a bedroom card table in 1994.
As chair of his class's 20th reunion last fall, Wolf was known for the zany e-mails he sent into the ether, asking classmates to make phone calls and volunteer their own time and creativity. When the big night for the celebration on the Main Quad finally arrived, "every time someone wandered in, Howie would look up and wave," says the Alumni Association's Leslie Winick. He either knew everyone or was eager to, she explains. "And Howie is one of those guys who listens--who actually looks you in the eye."
Married to business school classmate Kat Larimer, Wolf is the father of a true Cardinal clan. His two children--9-year-old Tucker and 11-year-old Rachel--knew when to jump during "All Right Now" before they started elementary school. And his golden retriever, Nellie, is "bummed big time" that she can no longer romp to the Dish, Wolf says. But she'll continue to frequent the Claw.
