Laurie Ostrow; ACLU Leader

Laurie Ostrow, a civic leader who chaired the ACLU Foundation of Southern California from 1982 to 1988, has died. She was 74.

Mrs. Ostrow, the widow of Los Angeles philanthropist Seniel Ostrow, died Thursday of cancer at her Brentwood home.

In 1990, she was awarded the Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California for her lifetime dedication to the cause of civil liberties.

In 1989, Mrs. Ostrow was also honored by the Southern California Americans for Democratic Action for her volunteer activities.

She had devoted several years to the ACLU, serving as its first director of planned giving, and organizing its 1974 “Impeach Nixon” campaign. The organization’s new headquarters building on Los Angeles’ Beverly Boulevard is named for the Ostrow family.

Mrs. Ostrow helped to establish the International Student Center at UCLA and served as its director from 1963 to 1968. Three years later, she returned as associate dean of international students.

She was also active in the Hollywood Policy Center, Amnesty International, People for the American Way, The Nation Associates and the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

Mrs. Ostrow was born Laurie Zarren on July 13, 1917, in Syracuse, N.Y.

Survivors include her two sons from a previous marriage, Richard and Robert Moss; two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Amnesty International, Hollywood Policy Center, or the UCLA International Student Center.