Herbert Stothart II, 74; Art History Professor

Herbert Stothart II, a longtime professor of art history at Santa Monica College, died on October 6 from complications of a stroke. He was 74.’ Herbert was born on November 23, 1929 in Santa Monica, the son of artist Mary Wolfe Stothart and the pioneer Broadway and MGM film composer Herbert Stothart, best known for the original score for the 1939 film classic ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Stothart was raised in Brentwood and lived for many years in Pacific Palisades, at 50 Haldeman Rd. in a house designed by architect Richard Neutra. He attended The Harvard School and UCLA, where he earned a master’s degree in art history. He married Roberta Ann Bates and together they built a home on Old Malibu Road in Malibu, a location he carefully selected for its perfect surf break. Driven by his great passion for Italian art, Stothart moved his family to a tiny village in the Provincia di’Como in northern Italy, where he was a contributor in the founding of nearby Franklin College. The family traveled extensively together, often crossing the Atlantic Ocean on ‘banana boats’ and other nontraditional forms of transportation. Eventually returning to Southern California, he taught art history at Santa Monica College and UCLA. Professor Stothart was well known for inviting students and friends on day-long field trips to his mountaintop property in Solstice Canyon (he called it a Center for Spiritual Renaissance) and for passionate discussions of and lectures about ancient art and architecture, Greek tragedies, opera, ethics, gardening, sculpture and nature.’He was a consummate dreamer and was deeply intrigued and committed to the idea of living off the land. He was also a great supporter of The Film Music Society and its efforts toward film music preservation. Determined to uphold his father’s musical legacy, he maintained many of his music manuscripts and papers. The Herbert Stothart Collection is now being catalogued for UCLA Music Special Collections and will include rare information about Broadway and Hollywood history. Stothart is survived by his four daughters: Lisa, Camille, Anna Lucia and Betta; his sister, Constance Stothart Bongi, and Roberta Bates Stothart. A memorial service will be held on ‘The Mountain’ next spring.