San Francisco Conservatory of Music supporter Richard C. Blum – chairman and president of Blum Capital Partners, husband of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, explorer, philanthropist and San Franciscan died Sunday. He was 86 years old.

Among their many charitable endeavors, Blum and Feinstein contributed significant support for SFCM’s Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts, which was inaugurated in November 2021. The Atrium of the building is named in their honor.

"Dick Blum was a champion for humanity, education, the arts, and most importantly, for those often unseen and not heard. Dick believed in the power of giving back and dedicated his life to improving our world. He was a mensch and a great friend. We love him and will miss him," said SFCM President David Stull.

Blum was a friend of the Dalai Lama and an adviser to multiple presidents. Yet, he is perhaps best known in California as a regent of the University of California, an indication of his commitment to higher education.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of Blum, “Richard was a powerful force for good in our City. Building a successful business, he constantly gave back to our City: whether as a patron of our arts, a donor to our food banks or a benefactor to our efforts to end homelessness. Both with his generous philanthropy and by serving on the Board of Regents … he helped strengthen our universities across California.”

His daughter Eileen Blum Bourgade is a trustee of SFCM and was a student of the Conservatory’s pre-college division.