Announcing the Rolf & Gunilla Hastrup Endowment Fund

A Legacy of Leadership, Stewardship, and Devotion to Students

The Caltech Y is honored to announce the establishment of the Rolf & Gunilla Hastrup Endowment Fund created in their memory by their children, Lillemor and Stefan. This Endowment celebrates two extraordinary champions of the Y whose lives were defined by service, leadership, and steadfast commitment to students.

Rolf and Gunilla Hastrup believed deeply in the mission of the Caltech Y and, even more importantly, in the students it serves.

A Lifetime of Leadership and Stewardship

Rolf Hastrup served the Caltech Y as both Board Treasurer and Board Chair, offering thoughtful leadership and careful financial stewardship. With characteristic diligence, Rolf compiled detailed historical information about Caltech Y endowments managed by the Institute, poring over years of reports to ensure clarity, transparency, and responsible oversight. His commitment reflected not just financial acumen, but a profound respect for the donors whose generosity has sustained the Y for 110 years.

Though many might assume Rolf’s involvement began during his student years, he was not a member of ExComm as a student. Instead, he became involved through his former roommate and close friend, Frank Dryden, a reminder that the Y’s community often grows through relationships and shared purpose. What began as connection became a lifelong dedication.

Beyond his service to the Y, Rolf devoted more than 50 years to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), bringing the same loyalty, precision, and integrity to his professional life that he brought to his volunteer leadership.

Gunilla’s Devotion to Students

Gunilla Hastrup also served on the Caltech Y Board, but her impact extended far beyond formal titles. She made it a point to attend weekly ExComm meetings, quietly sitting in the corner and listening attentively to student conversations. She believed it was essential that the Board truly understand what students were experiencing, what they needed, what inspired them, and where they struggled. She saw herself as a bridge, carrying students’ voices back to the Board with care and integrity. She especially enjoyed serving on the Studenski Award Committee and provided beautiful centerpieces for countless Friends Dinners.

The Gunilla Hastrup Adventure Fund was established in Gunilla's memory by her family in 2022 and captures Gunilla’s devotion to student welfare, her spirit of adventure, love of travel, and belief in maintaining strong cultural ties. To date, the Caltech Y has provided 47 students the opportunity to gain perspective through cultural immersion and connecting with their family history.

Together, Rolf and Gunilla also served as editors of the Caltech Y newsletter. They believed strongly in the importance of communicating the Y’s work to donors and alumni, ensuring that those who cared about the organization remained informed and connected. They understood that transparency builds trust—and that stories of student growth matter.

A Legacy That Continues

The Rolf & Gunilla Hastrup Endowment Fund, carries forward this shared legacy

The Fund supports:

• The Gunilla Hastrup Adventure Award, encouraging students to explore their roots or engage deeply with cultures different from their own.

• Student Executive Committee (ExComm) initiatives, empowering students to lead programs that foster belonging, service, and civic engagement.

This Endowment reflects what Rolf and Gunilla modeled: careful stewardship, trust in students, and the conviction that leadership grows through experience, perspective, and connection.

The Caltech Y is deeply grateful to the Hastrup family for this meaningful tribute. Rolf and Gunilla’s legacy lives on not only in the history of the Y, but in the generations of students who will be shaped by this Endowment for years to come.