Marian Mullin Hancock, 88; Philanthropist

Marian Mullin Hancock, a Southern California philanthropist and the third wife of the late G. Allan Hancock, whose family developed the oil-rich land grant Rancho La Brea, has died. She was 88.

Mrs. Hancock died Monday at her home, Rosemary Farm in Santa Maria.

At the time of her death, Mrs. Hancock was chairwoman of the board of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad Co.

She had recently donated land for the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, and was to be honorary chairwoman of a fund drive for the medical center. She was known for her philanthropy in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles as well as the Santa Maria Valley.

A devout Catholic, Mrs. Hancock won some of the highest honors of her church: the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal, awarded by Pope John Paul II in 1983 in recognition of her service to her local area and to the entire Roman Catholic Church; membership in 1986 in the Dames of Malta, a worldwide philanthropic order dedicated to the health of the poor and, in 1990, the Cardinal’s Award, granted by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Mrs. Hancock was born June 21, 1903, in Iowa City, Iowa, and grew up in Broadmoor, Colo., where her father was a mining engineer. She attended Wolcott School and St. Mary’s Academy, Notre Dame, in South Bend, Ind.

Always interested in education, she served for many years on the University of Santa Clara’s Board of Regents, and on the board of St. Vincent’s School in Santa Barbara. Her Marian Mullin Hancock Scholarship has been presented annually at Allan Hancock College.

Her husband, whom she married in 1946 in the old Santa Ines Mission, died in 1965. She remained trustee of his estate until her death.

Mrs. Hancock is survived by a niece, Molly Ann Mullin of Los Angeles, and several cousins.

A combination Rosary and funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria. Burial will be private at Hancock Crypt, Calvary Cemetery & Mausoleum in Los Angeles.