Robert M. McIntyre, 81; Former Gas Co. Chief, Prominent Fundraiser

Robert M. McIntyre, a former president and chairman of Southern California Gas Co. who won wide recognition for his civic work, particularly projects that sought to strengthen ties with local minority communities, died Sunday at a hospital near his Newport Beach home. He was 81.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

McIntyre began at the utility in 1952, when he was hired as a salesman. A native of Portland, Ore., he served in a variety of managerial positions before being named president in 1980 and chairman in 1985. He retired in 1989.

As chairman, he was credited with leading the gas company through the energy crisis of the 1980s, when natural gas prices soared.

“He made a dramatic change in the way we communicated with our customers,” said Pat Garner, the utility’s vice president of public affairs at the time. “We became very forthright in explaining why the cost of gas was rising, what the gas company was doing about it and what customers could do as well.”

McIntyre also was a key member of a generation of local business leaders, including Lodwrick Cook of Arco and Roy Anderson of Lockheed, who led the corporate community in the 1980s with their deep sense of civic duty and commitment to corporate philanthropy.

“Bob truly believed that businesses benefited from extensive community involvement, and the gas company became a key player in the community under his leadership,” said Peter V. Ueberroth, who was president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Games. McIntyre served under Ueberroth as a member of the committee.

On the Eastside this week, he was remembered for his instrumental role 20 years ago in raising $1.2 million for the Plaza de la Raza cultural center.

Although his fundraising efforts, along with Cook’s, were crucial, his concern “clearly went beyond financial support,” plaza Executive Director Rose Marie Cano said Friday. “He helped fund an expansion of our facility, but he would often just show up unannounced and visit the classrooms and talk to kids.”

“He was just a really decent human being,” said Antonia Hernandez, president of the California Community Foundation, who led the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund when McIntyre helped with donations for leadership development programs and headed benefits for the group.

Hernandez described him as “extremely humble, unassuming and ... just extremely approachable,” as well as gregarious. “He had a real gusto for life and learning. When you were with him, it was like, ‘Tell me what’s going on.’ ”

Just as important, Hernandez added, was that McIntyre “understood the changing demographics of L.A. and sought to be responsive and inclusive of those communities.”

Among business leaders, he was, according to Hernandez, “one of the early few people who recognized the emerging importance of the Latino community and eagerly embraced it.”

McIntyre’s community work brought him a number of honors, including the Outstanding Service Award from MALDEF, a Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Roy Wilkins Award from the Los Angeles chapter of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People.

The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce gives the annual Robert M. McIntyre Award to recognize individuals for their leadership skills.

McIntyre also served on then-Gov. George Deukmejian’s advisory panel for the University of California Regents, which consulted with the governor on candidates for the UC governing board. McIntyre was a 1950 graduate of UCLA, where he received a bachelor’s degree in geography.

After leaving the gas company, McIntyre retired to Orange County and learned to paint with watercolors. Whenever he sold a painting, he donated the proceeds to Newport Beach’s Hoag Hospital. He also headed the hospital’s foundation for six years. During his tenure, he helped raised $23 million to pay for projects such as the Hoag Cancer Center.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Julie Crouch; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. Memorial donations may be sent to the Hoag Hospital Foundation, 1 Hoag Drive, Box 6100, Newport Beach CA 92658-6100.