Watson Laetsch grew walnuts commercially, raised antique apple varieties and had a vineyard producing Chardonnay and Merlot grapes, from which he made wine. He served on the College Advisory Board, was Co-Chair of the Bancroft Library Capital Campaign and the Mark Twain Lunch Club and was involved in Friends of Cal History, and he led Bear Treks with his wife. He was the past Chair-, of the Board of Directors, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute; Member, Board of Directors, Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland; and Member, Board of Trustees, University of California Press Foundation.
Watson M. Laetsch Obituary