Rollin L. McNitt Jr.; Developer of Rose Hills Memorial Park

Rollin L. McNitt Jr., 75, who developed Rose Hills Memorial Park from an 18-acre country cemetery to the world’s largest with 2,500 acres. A Stanford-trained lawyer and financial expert, McNitt worked for Rose Hills for four decades, including 24 years as president and chief executive officer. The World War II Navy veteran served as president of the National Assn. of Cemeteries, member of the state Cemetery Board, and secretary-treasurer of the Interment Assn. of California. McNitt was also active in politics, campaigning for fellow Democrats Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown, Sen. Alan Cranston, Rep. Chet Holifield and for Republican President Richard M. Nixon. On May 8 in La Jolla of cancer.