Prominent Des Moines arts patron and philanthropist Melva Bucksbaum has died.
She established the popular Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series at Drake University in memory of her late husband, Martin, the founder of General Growth Properties.
Since 1997, the series has drawn top names in politics, media and the arts, including NPR’s Nina Totenberg and former President Jimmy Carter.
The first Bucksbaum lecture was delivered by Melva’s nephew, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman.
Melva Bucksbaum died Sunday in Aspen, Colorado. She was 82 years old.